KISSmyBLAKarts™ is a groundbreaking and trailblazin’ BLAK arts company. We stand proudly as a For US, By US initiative in that it is 100% BLAK determined and driven. KISSmyBLAKarts™ is putting integrity and professionalism BLAK in the game. We will lead, so the rest can follow.

The key principles of KISSmyBLAKarts™ can be found in our global connect to movements of BLAK unity.

 

GREAT MOMENTS IN BLAKISTORY

African-American history of acknowledgement
of Aboriginal Australia through the arts & culture.

            Australia has a long history of trade and engagement with the international nations of color. A catalyst for the civil rights movement in Australia came through the power of understanding global unity. At a time when Australia’s BLAK people were classified as Flora and Fauna [plants and animals]-pre 1967, MARCUS GARVEY had recruited African-American merchant seaman to spread his philosophies globally. Those who made it to Australia, met with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to share this vision of empowerment. From this, the first Black political theater movement was born and through the arts the seeds of social change were embedded to move toward recognition of black rights and equity.

            Leading African-American artists post 1967 continued this tradition and whenever there was a tour to this country, these artists made it a point to engage with the Aboriginal Nations. PAUL ROBESON and NAT KING COLE were among the list. This tradition continued with artists right up until the 80s and 90s with the likes of STEVIE WONDER, JANET JACKSON, MICHAEL JACKSON, TINA TURNER, PUBLIC ENEMY, ICE CUBE and DE LA SOUL making a point of recognizing and engaging with the Indigenous peoples of Australia.

            Hip Hop touring events and promotion in Australia has gone through a metamorphous over the past 15years. Initially tours in the 1990s were few, with artists or groups such rarely making their way to Australia and even more rarely venturing beyond Sydney or Melbourne. These acts were mostly toured by promoters with little or no interest in the hip hop movements, but who had identified the potential in the audience figures and profit margins.

            In the past five years, there has been an influx of first time Hip Hop and RnB promoters. This has spawned a cowboy generation with many tours of late structured within a wannabe hustle mentality, with little consideration to the administration and art of successful tour management. This has not served the Australian promoters well with a growing perception coming from international acts that it is hardly worth their time to hit the road on an Australian touring circuit. This is supported by the sentiment from venues who have called a trend with the ever growing frequency of tour dates falling over and acts canceling at the last minute.

            One vision that is a critical driver with KISSmyBLAKarts™ is to revive these trade routes and pathways of BLAK exchange, embedding this into an unique and high end touring circuit. While there is still some engagement with the BLAK arts nations, there is definitely a deficit of exchange amongst our people that continues to grow. KISSmyBLAKarts™ has made a commitment to return to our roots and honor the global dialogues that our fore-bearers and Elders forged for the betterment of our peoples standing together in Unity.

KISSmyBLAKarts™
ABM 13 611 871 167
BN10904888

MS Sam Cook
Executive Director
E: sam@kissmyblakarts.com