Workshops & Opportunities

Becoming Visual Griots Program

Community & School Workshop Offerings

The Becoming Visual Griots Program is a community-facing workshop series introducing storytelling through visual art, collage, assemblage, and hybrid 2D/3D practices. Rooted in Afrofuturist principles and the Sankofa tradition of learning from the past to build the future, these workshops invite participants of all ages to develop visual literacy, narrative construction skills, and creative confidence. Each session serves as an entry point into the broader AstroSankofa artist development ecosystem.

Find a Workshop

Looking for a longer-term program? Browse our 2026 Program Offerings.

Cosmic Colours

Intro to Afrofuturist Colour Theory

Explore the vibrant intersection of colour theory and Afrofuturist aesthetics. Participants learn to mix, layer, and apply colour palettes inspired by cosmic landscapes, African textiles, and speculative futures. Through hands-on painting and collage exercises, artists develop a personal colour vocabulary rooted in cultural storytelling.

2–3 hours Ages 6+
  • Understand foundational colour theory through an Afrofuturist lens
  • Create original colour palettes inspired by cosmic and cultural themes
  • Develop confidence in mixing and layering techniques
  • Build visual storytelling skills using colour as narrative
Visual Arts

Soaring While Black

Afrofuturist Flight and Freedom Narratives

A multimedia workshop exploring themes of flight, freedom, and transcendence in Black cultural traditions. Participants create layered artworks combining drawing, collage, and mixed media to tell stories of liberation and aspiration. The workshop draws on historical narratives of flight in African diasporic folklore and speculative fiction.

2–3 hours Ages 8+
  • Explore themes of flight and freedom in Black cultural history
  • Create mixed-media artworks combining drawing and collage
  • Develop narrative construction skills through visual art
  • Strengthen understanding of Afrofuturist storytelling traditions
Mixed Media

Rise of The Afrobots

Robotics Meets Afrofuturist Design

Participants design and build Afrofuturist-inspired robot characters using recycled materials, basic electronics, and sculptural techniques. This workshop bridges STEAM learning with cultural storytelling, encouraging young artists to imagine technology through an African diasporic lens.

3–4 hours Ages 8–14
  • Design original robot characters rooted in Afrofuturist aesthetics
  • Learn basic electronics and sculptural construction techniques
  • Develop STEAM skills through culturally grounded making
  • Build confidence in combining technology with artistic expression
STEAM

Sankofa Cyberforge

Digital Art and Ancestral Futures

A digital art workshop where participants use tablets and accessible software to create Afrofuturist compositions that blend ancestral symbols with futuristic imagery. Artists learn digital drawing, layering, and composition while exploring the Sankofa principle of looking back to move forward.

2–3 hours Ages 10+
  • Learn digital drawing and composition fundamentals
  • Create original Afrofuturist digital artworks
  • Explore the Sankofa principle through visual storytelling
  • Build digital literacy and creative technology skills
Digital Arts

Encrypted Dream Pods

Immersive Storytelling Environments

Participants construct miniature immersive environments — dream pods — using mixed media, lighting, and found objects. Each pod becomes a portal into a personal Afrofuturist narrative, blending sculpture, installation, and storytelling into a single tactile experience.

3–4 hours Ages 10+
  • Build miniature immersive environments using mixed media
  • Develop spatial storytelling and installation skills
  • Explore personal narrative through sculptural practice
  • Strengthen creative problem-solving and material experimentation
Installation

SCULPTFLEET

Afrofuturist Vessel Building

A sculptural workshop focused on building speculative vessels — ships, pods, and carriers — inspired by African maritime traditions and Afrofuturist imagination. Participants work with clay, wire, recycled materials, and assemblage techniques to create three-dimensional fleet objects that carry cultural stories.

3–4 hours Ages 8+
  • Create three-dimensional sculptural vessels using mixed materials
  • Learn assemblage and construction techniques
  • Explore African maritime traditions through speculative design
  • Develop spatial thinking and sculptural problem-solving skills
Sculpture

Omulembe Legacy Clothes

Wearable Art and Cultural Identity

A textile and wearable art workshop where participants design and create garments and accessories that celebrate African heritage and Afrofuturist vision. Using fabric painting, printing, and embellishment techniques, artists transform everyday clothing into statements of cultural identity and speculative fashion.

2–3 hours Ages 8+
  • Design and create wearable art pieces celebrating cultural identity
  • Learn fabric painting, printing, and embellishment techniques
  • Explore the intersection of fashion, heritage, and Afrofuturism
  • Build confidence in textile arts and creative self-expression
Textile Arts

Book a Workshop

Interested in bringing a Becoming Visual Griots workshop to your school, community centre, or organization? We offer flexible scheduling for groups of all sizes. Contact us to discuss availability, pricing, and custom workshop options.

info@astrosankofa.org

Our 11 Core AfriXin Symbols

The AfriXin Symbols are a set of visual icons representing core principles of Afrofuturism and Black cultural empowerment. Each symbol carries deep meaning and serves as a visual language for our creative community, drawing from traditional Adinkra symbols reimagined for contemporary artistic expression.

Sankofa Bird symbol

Sankofa Bird

Bird looking backward over its shoulder

Return and get it — learning from the past to build the future. This symbol teaches us that our journey forward is guided by the wisdom of our ancestors. In the context of AstroSankofa, it represents the act of reclaiming and reimagining Black futures through the lens of ancestral knowledge.

Sankofa Dua symbol

Sankofa Dua

Heart-shaped symbol with cross

Learn from the past to build the future. The Sankofa Dua represents the heart's role in preserving and transmitting cultural memory. It reminds us that emotional connection to our heritage fuels creative innovation and cultural renaissance.

Ankh symbol

Ankh

Cross with loop at the top

Key of life — eternal life and vitality. Originally from ancient Kemet (Egypt), the Ankh represents the life force that animates all existence. In Afrofuturist contexts, it symbolizes the eternal nature of Black creativity and the continuity of cultural life across generations.

Aya symbol

Aya

Fern plant with fronds

Endurance and resourcefulness. The fern symbolizes resilience, growing in diverse conditions and adapting to thrive. It represents the enduring spirit of Black communities and our ability to create beauty and sustenance even in challenging environments.

Duafe symbol

Duafe

Wooden comb with decorative handle

Beauty and care — nurturing what is precious. The Duafe symbolizes the act of grooming and self-care as practices of cultural preservation. It represents the careful attention required to maintain cultural traditions and the beauty of Black identity.

Fawohodie symbol

Fawohodie

Circular symbol with radiating patterns

Freedom and independence. This symbol represents the fundamental human right to self-determination. In the context of AstroSankofa, it speaks to artistic freedom and the liberation that comes through creative expression and cultural sovereignty.

Funtumfunefu Denkyemfunefu symbol

Funtumfunefu Denkyemfunefu

Two crocodiles sharing one stomach

Unity in diversity, democracy. This symbol represents the idea that we share a common destiny despite our differences. It teaches collaboration and cooperation, reminding us that collective strength comes from unity of purpose while honoring individual expression.

Nea Onnim symbol

Nea Onnim

Symbol showing hand reaching for knowledge

If you don't know, learn. This symbol celebrates the pursuit of knowledge as a lifelong journey. It embodies the spirit of inquiry and the understanding that wisdom comes through continuous learning and openness to new ideas.

Nkonsonkonson symbol

Nkonsonkonson

Interlocking chain links

Unity and human relations. This symbol represents the interconnectedness of all people and the strength that comes from community bonds. It reminds us that no one exists in isolation and that our individual stories are woven into a collective narrative.

Dono symbol

Dono

Drum with drumsticks

Rhythm and communication. The drum represents the heartbeat of community and the power of rhythm to connect people across time and space. It symbolizes the role of music and sound in preserving cultural memory and transmitting stories between generations.

Wawa Aba symbol

Wawa Aba

Seed or kernel shape

Strength and toughness. The seed represents potential and resilience, containing within it the promise of future growth. It symbolizes the inner strength that carries communities through challenges and the enduring power of cultural seeds planted in fertile ground.

Continue Your Journey

Ready to take your artistic development further? Explore our advanced programs for deeper mentorship, professional training, and immersive creative experiences.

Youth C.O.M.M.E.T AstroBlack Cap Nyota Residency Rising VR