2026 Theme: America 250 – Our Story
On July 4, 2026, our nation commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Art of Soul! 2026 provides a platform for visual creatives to document our African American stories, honor the individuals whose contributions built this country, and celebrate their legacy.
In honor of the United States’ 250th anniversary, we invite artists to explore the nation’s story through the lens of the African diaspora. What does America mean through your eyes? How do heritage, resilience, identity, and vision shape your narrative? We want to see your story!
Resources for Additional Research:
Anna-Lisa Cox, Ph.D.- author of The Bone and Sinew of the Land
American Battlefield Trust
10 Facts: Black Patriots in the American Revolution | American Battlefield Trust
Daughters of the American Revolution – African Americans in the Revolutionary War
Search Page | Daughters of the American Revolution
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Cuffee Saunders | Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
https://www.gilderlehrman.org/declaration-independence
Harvard University- The Hutchins Center for African & African American Research
The History Channel
7 Black Heroes of the American Revolution | HISTORY
National Museum of African American History and Culture Library
The Schomburg Center for Research
Research at Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture | The New York Public Library
