Festivals, Fairs & Special Events, Music & Comedy, Theatre & Performing Arts
Black Monument Ensemble June 24, 2026
Illinois Humanities is proud to present Damon Locks’ world-renowned Black Monument Ensemble live at Garfield Park Conservatory & Gardens on Wednesday, June 24, 2026.
In partnership with the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance, Chicago Park District, Jane M. Saks/Project&, and Empty Bottle Presents, Damon Locks’ Black Monument Ensemble returns to Garfield Park Conservatory for a timely and powerful performance that interweaves Black histories and speculative futures, prompting audiences to contemplate where we are today, and where we might go next as we commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
This free musical performance, led by acclaimed Chicago artist, educator, and cultural organizer Damon Locks, is both rooted in Black history and radically future-facing. Through layered sound and joyful collaboration, the Ensemble creates immersive experiences that explore collective creativity, memory, and possibility.
