Walker Center to mark 95 years, reopening, Juneteenth

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 8, 2022

Walker Center to mark 95 years, reopening, Juneteenth

On June 17, Legacy Ball featuring Babyface will kick off three days of festivities

INDIANAPOLIS—The Madam Walker Legacy Center has announced a weekend of festivities starting June 17 to celebrate the 95^th anniversary of the opening of the iconic Indiana Avenue theater that bears its founder’s name. The weekend, which also includes the grand reopening of the performance venue, will conclude with a celebration of the Juneteenth holiday.

The 95^th anniversary celebration kicks off on Friday, June 17^, with the sold-out Legacy Ball and Concert, headlined by hometown legend Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds. The prolific and prodigiously talented North Central High School alum has been nominated for a Grammy award 79 times, winning 12, including a record four Grammys for “Producer of the Year”. He’ll snag one more honor during his visit to Indianapolis; Babyface will be honored with a star on the Madam Walker Walk of Fame.

The weekend will be bookended by a second sold-out performance, this one from a second Grammy winner when Gospel star Karen Clark Sheard takes the stage at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 19. Sheard, presented by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, is best known as a member of The Clark Sisters, the highest-selling female Gospel group in history.

In between the two concerts, Madam Walker Legacy Center is hosting a FREE Block Party on the Ave on Saturday and Sunday featuring a Kid’s and Grown Folks Zone; #DaddyDoDay - a Daddy-Daughter Duo Hairstyling Competition; a Juneteenth Brunch hosted by The Block Bistro & Grill; and performances on the Art & Soul Stage recognizing June as Black Music Month, presented by the Indy Arts Council, Lilly Endowment, and AARP Indiana. The full schedule can be found at: madamwalkerlegacycenter.com.

Sponsors Include:

The Indianapolis Foundation, a CICF affiliate | Lilly Endowment, Inc. | Lumina Foundation | IUPUI | The Mind Trust | FedEx | AT&T | Engaging Solutions, LLC | WISH-TV | Old National Bank | Mays Chemical | Indiana University Foundation | Visit Indy | Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library | Pacers Sports and Entertainment | IU Health | Taft Law | Eskenazi Health | Indiana University | Strada Education Network | Hirons | Tito's Handmade Vodka | Radio One Indianapolis | AARP IN | Indy Arts Council | iHeartMedia | McDonald's | 16 Tech | InnoPower | Cerulean Consulting Group | Marion County Health Department | University of Indianapolis MICI-AHEC | Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper | Key Bank | Indianapolis Urban League | SHEEN Magazine | Indy Maven | Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey

About Madam Walker Legacy Center

The Madam Walker Legacy Center represents a significant piece of the nation’s history. It is located in the Madam C.J. Walker Building, which was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1991 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. It remains a beacon of pride, hope, and the beauty that lies in diversity, ensuring that the significance of Madam CJ Walker, Indiana Avenue, and African-American cultural arts are not forgotten.

Media Contact:
Ashley S. Martin

[email protected]

260.580.0895