PITTSBURGH, PA (April 2026) — The August Wilson African American Cultural Center invites the public to a special edition of Intermission, the monthly artful networking event on Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 6:00 PM, serving as the opening reception for its newest exhibition, HBCU Fields of Dreams to Pro Football Fame, timed to coincide with one of the most high-profile moments in professional football.

Hosted by The Advanced Leadership Institute and featuring music by DJ Big Phill, this dynamic evening blends art, culture, sports history, and networking.

Guests attending the April Intermission will celebrate the legacy and impact of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) through powerful storytelling and rare sports memorabilia highlighting the profound influence of HBCU athletes, coaches, and contributors on professional football. This exhibit is in collaboration with the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.  As part of the evening, attendees will also receive complimentary access to the sculpture exhibition by Nigerian artist, Peju Alatise, I Will Belong to Only Me, which includes, back by popular demand, Flying Girls. Guests can also strike a pose and take a picture on the colorful grand staircase art installation by Lavett Ballard.

On view through April 26, 2026 only, HBCU Fields of Dreams to Pro Football Fame  is free admission.  Visitors will have the rare opportunity to encounter iconic artifacts connected to legendary figures including Shannon Sharpe, Walter Payton, Mel Blount, and pioneering scout Bill Nunn, whose groundbreaking work helped shape the success of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The exhibition offers a timely opportunity for visitors and football fans to experience these historic artifacts before the excitement of the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft brings crowds to the city.

Event Details

• What: Intermission Monthly Artful Networking Party and Opening Reception & Exhibition Preview
• When: Thursday, April 16, 2026 | 6:00 PM
• Where: August Wilson African American Cultural Center, 980 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA

Tickets: $13 for entry to the Intermission monthly networking event.

ABOUT AUGUST WILSON AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER

The August Wilson African American Cultural Center is a nonprofit cultural organization located in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District that generates artistic, educational, and community initiatives that advance the legacy of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson.

One of the largest cultural centers in the country focused exclusively on the African American experience and the celebration of Black culture and the African diaspora, the nonprofit organization welcomes more than 100,000 visitors locally and nationally. Through year-round programming across multiple genres, such as the annual Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival, Black Bottom Film Festival, AWCommunity Days, TRUTHSayers Speaker Series, and rotating art exhibits in its galleries, the Center provides a platform for established and emerging artists of color whose work reflects the universal issues of identity that Wilson tackled, and which still resonate today.

Major support for AWAACC’s operations is provided by the Richard King Mellon Foundation, Henry L. Hillman Foundation, Heinz Endowments, and the Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD). AWAACC’s programming is made possible by generous support from its donors. For a complete list, visit www.awaacc.org.

Coverage is requested.