A GATHERING OF THE TRIBES

HISTORY & MISSION

Founded in 1991 by blind poet, playwright, novelist, and former Medgar Evers College professor Steve Cannon (1935–2019), A Gathering of the Tribes began as a literary magazine and incorporated as a non-profit arts organization in 1993. Rooted in Cannon’s unwavering belief in multiculturalism and interdisciplinary exchange, Tribes was created to provide a space where artists and writers of color, immigrants, women, LGBTQIA+ communities, and people from diverse class backgrounds could gather, experiment, debate, and create—bonded by a singular passion: a profound love of the arts.

From its early days as a performance venue, artist salon, and exhibition space inside Cannon’s East Village home, Tribes has served as a platform for traditionally underrepresented voices across disciplines. The organization has supported both emerging and established artists through publications, hosted events, financial opportunities, educational workshops and access to a vibrant creative community. Notable Tribes’ artists include David Hammons, Bob Holman, Ishmael Reed, Quincy Troupe, Chavisa Woods, Danny Shot, reg e gaines, Katherine Arnoldi, Diane Burns, John Farris, Darius H. James, Tracie Morris, Ntozake Shange, Gordon Parks, Sun Ra Arkestra, and Butch Morris.

Today, Tribes remains deeply committed to celebrating and embracing diverse cultures, perspectives, ideologies, and identities. Its programming reflects a vision of a world where intellectual and creative endeavors are valued as much as labor and capital, and where groundbreaking artists, too often overlooked by mainstream institutions, are given the space and support to thrive. In 2022, Tribes published its 16th biennial literary magazine, The Black Lives Matter Issue, featuring art, poetry, and prose by nearly 40 creatives with guest editors Ishmael Reed, Danny Simmons, and Margaret Porter Troupe. That same year, the Whitney Biennial Quiet as It’s Kept honored the legacies of Steve Cannon and the vast community of A Gathering of the Tribes with an installation and a two-day marathon poetry reading celebrating our enduring cultural impact.