2026 marks the 30th anniversary of Art & Soul, the program that celebrates Black artists in central Indiana. For the second year in a row, the festival, which used to take place during Black History Month in February, will unfold across several months.
The Indy Arts Council and Madam Walker Legacy Center are producing Art & Soul, which started in 1996. Each year, the festival highlights four featured artists, who receive paid opportunities, coaching and more support to help them achieve their career goals. This year’s artists are Austin Dean Ashford, Kenn.Wav, Auboni Essence and D’yshe Mansfield.
The Arts Council and Madam Walker Center chose the four from a pool of 60 based on their talent and career commitment. Here’s more about the featured artists and the Art & Soul schedule of events.
2026 Art & Soul Featured Artists
Multidisciplinary artist Austin Dean Ashford: The playwright, performer and musician explores hip hop and Afrofuturism in his work. He also mentors artists at Flanner House and IF Theatre. Ashford’s goal is to tell Black stories in theaters and on screens as he continues to tour, produce, educate and publish.
Musician Kenn.Wav: The pianist combines gospel, soul, R&B, contemporary and electronic influences to create work that draws from communities that have impacted him. He has released the 2023 alternative R&B album Frequency and a collaborative EP with Breon Lanier.
Literary and spoken word artist Auboni Essence: The writer and performer composes poems, short stories and plays that highlight joys and contend with struggles. Essence also has led a youth poetry workshop and competed nationally with a slam poetry team.
Multidisciplinary artist D’yshe Mansfield: The singer, songwriter, actor and director attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City before coming back to Indianapolis in 2021. Mansfield is committed to community-focused work and storytelling. She has performed at The Jazz Kitchen, Black: A Festival of Joy, Legacy Fest and the Butter fine art fair.
2026 Art & Soul event schedule
More to-be-announced events will take place from May through October. Find information about upcoming events and announcements at indyarts.org/programs/art-soul.
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Contact IndyStar reporter Domenica Bongiovanni at 317-444-7339 or d.bongiovanni@indystar.com. Sign up here for the newsletter she curates about things to do and ways to explore Indianapolis. Find her on Facebook, Instagram or X: @domenicareports.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: These four community-oriented artists are featured in Art & Soul 2026
Reporting by Domenica Bongiovanni, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Domenica Bongiovanni, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
