Welcome to the Nia Network: A Program Bureau, a division of Celeste Bateman & Associates. The program bureau features visual and performing artists, historians, writers and motivational speakers of African descent who present in various venues nationally and internationally. CB&A has compiled a roster of extraordinarily talented individuals who are available to perform and present at colleges and universities, performing arts centers, schools, churches, corporations, festivals, trade shows, etc. What makes this program bureau unique is that all of the participants present topics and art forms pertaining to the African Diaspora.
Nia is the Swahili word for ‘purpose.’ Our purpose is to promulgate what is rich and positive about African, Caribbean, and African-American culture, history, heritage and art. For booking information, email us at info@celestebateman.com or call 973.705.8253.
PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to take on additional artists/speakers at this time, but please feel free to forward your information for future consideration.
Nia is the Swahili word for ‘purpose.’ Our purpose is to promulgate what is rich and positive about African, Caribbean, and African-American culture, history, heritage and art. For booking information, email us at info@celestebateman.com or call 973.705.8253.
PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to take on additional artists/speakers at this time, but please feel free to forward your information for future consideration.
Click for photos
Ben F. Jones
Ben Jones is a painter and mixed media artist of international renown. He is currently a Professor of Art at New Jersey City University in Jersey City, NJ. His credits as an artist, curator, and costume designer, and his national and international exhibitions are too numerous to name. He received his BA from William Patterson University, an MA from New York University and an MFA from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. He has been the subject of countless publications, articles, television programs and videos and has received numerous awards, grants and fellowships
As an art professor at New Jersey City University, he has curated the Black History Month art exhibitions since 1968. As the fine arts coordinator, he has curated many fine art student exhibitions. He has also curated art exhibitions featuring artists from Cuba, Italy, Ghana, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and New Jersey. Some of the nationally known artists include Willie Cole, Bisa Washington, Gladys Barker Grauer, Mansa K. Mussa, Vivian McDuffy of New Jersey; Bob Blackburn and The Weusi Collective of New York; Pino Satta of Rome, Barbaro Miyares of Valencia, Kofi Essien of Accra, Ghana, and Margaret Burroughs of Chicago.
As an art professor at New Jersey City University, he has curated the Black History Month art exhibitions since 1968. As the fine arts coordinator, he has curated many fine art student exhibitions. He has also curated art exhibitions featuring artists from Cuba, Italy, Ghana, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and New Jersey. Some of the nationally known artists include Willie Cole, Bisa Washington, Gladys Barker Grauer, Mansa K. Mussa, Vivian McDuffy of New Jersey; Bob Blackburn and The Weusi Collective of New York; Pino Satta of Rome, Barbaro Miyares of Valencia, Kofi Essien of Accra, Ghana, and Margaret Burroughs of Chicago.