It’s no secret that the remarkable success of Sarasota’s Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe has been due in large part to an outpouring of support from wealthy, white audience members enthralled with its Black performers and productions. Founder and Artistic Director Nate Jacobs couldn’t be more grateful for that “miracle,” as he calls it.

But for the past three years on Juneteenth, the national holiday that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States, WBTT has opened its doors to a broader spectrum of the community, with the express intention of bringing in those who have never attended a performance there or may never have been exposed to the arts at all.

“We do love our patrons,” says Peterly Jean-Baptiste, WBTT’s education and outreach associate and the lead organizer behind the theater’s fourth Juneteenth Arts Festival. “But my focus is to build that bridge to different communities we don’t often see in this space and let folks know that WBTT exists for them. We want them to know there’s a place to go that accepts the entirety of you.”

Four years ago, Jean-Baptiste and his former colleague, Maicy Powell – both African American artists performing with WBTT – were discussing how they might “open our doors to more people who look like us.” Though the organization has long conducted outreach programs in the community, Juneteenth seemed like a perfect time to bring people to WBTT, rather than the other way around. When they approached Jacobs with the idea, he says “it felt like it was our duty,” to host a celebration.

“Juneteenth is extremely valued and important for African Americans because it literally changed our world,” Jacobs says. “It changed our history. It changed how we could narrate ourselves and reframed our entire think system in order to stand up and be.”

But, Jacobs says, many African Americans, especially in the South, did not grow up with the arts as part of their family or community culture and still don’t feel comfortable entering spaces predominantly frequented by white patrons.

“So WBTT’s job is to expose them,” he says. “And Juneteenth is for our people because it’s our history. Our hope is to – once again – bring the community together to enjoy a diverse offering of arts experiences while recognizing this important historical milestone. And you know there are always new faces and we know these are faces we don’t see during the subscription season.”

Because Juneteenth falls on a Friday this year, the organization had a “unique opportunity” to expand the festival to “a two-day shindig” says Jean-Baptiste. He has been “intentional” about booking Black food vendors, Black performers and films from Black artists.

“That’s what we want to showcase,” he says. “We want to provide a platform that some people may not have to show their stuff, while celebrating the holiday of freedom. WBTT is a space for everyone, but the holiday we’re celebrating is Juneteenth.”

This year’s event begins at 5:30 p.m. Friday with the opening of an exhibition of African artifacts from The African American Cultural Resource Center’s collection at the Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Public Library. The show includes African face jugs (inspired by the expressive vessels created by enslaved potters in the American South) from local ceramist Osa Atoe and digital illustrations from Tampa artist Yosnier Miranda. After catered “light bites” from G’s Southern Kitchen, the evening concludes at 7 p.m. with “Words, Beats & Movement,” a special performance on the WBTT mainstage directed by Jacobs that highlights local Black talent across all art forms. (Seating is limited and first-come, first-served.)

Much like when he first began WBTT 26 years ago, Jacobs says there are still many Black artists around Sarasota who have full-time jobs and are limited to “gig work.” He has selected just over a dozen poets, rappers, musicians and actors for the show to “celebrate their work and give them an opportunity be in front of our audience.”

“We want to make them feel WBTT is here for you too, not just for our wealthy patrons,” he says.

On Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m. on the WBTT campus, 1012 N. Orange Avenue, just north of Tenth Street, there will be live music; films from local filmmakers and students from the Ringling College of Art & Design; dance workshops;  and performances by professionals and students from WBTT’s Stage of Discovery youth musical theater intensive summer program for 9 to 18 year olds.

That program has become something of “a pipeline from students to the mainstage,” says Jean-Baptiste, and a precursor to the Young Artists and Independent Artists programs for adult professionals, which provides three emerging  artists each year with a stipend and the support of the entire WBTT staff to develop, market and mount their own showcase.

One of those young professionals was longtime WBTT actor Brian L. Boyd, who auditioned for and was accepted into the company just after graduating from Florida A & M in 2016. Boyd produced his first show for the mainstage, “A Rhapsody Revelation,” for the Young Artists showcase in 2019. Last December he mounted “Enigma,” for the Independent Artists showcase, and it will return as the finale of this year’s Juneteenth celebration at 7:30 p.m. Saturday night on the mainstage. (No ticket required. Seating limited; first come, first served.)

The show, produced by the Atlanta-based  M.A.D. (Music Acting Dance) Inc., the nonprofit Boyd founded with his wife, Brentney J. Boyd, was inspired by George C. Wolfe’s “The Colored Museum.” It is a series of vignettes that spotlight the multifaceted experiences of the African diaspora.

“It’s a celebration of al the things that at times get the short end of the stick in this country,” says Boyd, who has cut the production from its original three-hour run time to less than 90 minutes. “We need to celebrate HCBUs, Black history, Black leaders, Black women’s voice, hip-hop – things some of our audiences may not be privy to or need a reminder of.”

Choreographed by Boyd’s wife, the show encompasses music from gospel to hip-hop and, in addition to Boyd himself, features several of WBTT’s most beloved artists, including Todd Bellamy, Derric Gobourne, Jr., Michael Mejia-Mendez and Amber Myers.

“Many people don’t understand the challenges we’ve gone through to be on the map,” Boyd says. “We’re here to celebrate all of those things.”

The entire festival is open to all and free of charge (other than purchases from food vendors).  But while the emphasis is on the  festivity and fun, Jean-Baptist’s goal is that it will also deliver a more enduring message.

“Our job, or the job of any Black American in a position of influence, is to usher in change where it was previously denied,” he says. “So Juneteenth is a way to open those doors, mend those wrongs, to show Black households that the art forms they inspired are for them. Just because you see white folks coming through our doors doesn’t mean you’re not welcome here.”

Juneteenth Arts Festival, begins 5:30 p.m. Friday, June 19 and 1 p.m. Saturday, June 20 on the Westcoast Black Theater Troupe campus at 1012 N. Orange Ave. All events are free and open to the public. Visit westcoastblacktheatre.org/productions/juneteenth-arts-festival for the full festival schedule. For more information, call 941-366-1505.