For 2022’s Black History Month, Ovation TV, America’s only arts network, recognizes Black artists and artistry across all mediums through weekly feature presentations during its Friday night “Red Carpet Cinema” block, a curated on-demand programming lineup, and public service announcements. The network also celebrates diversity in the arts through its advocacy platform Stand for The Arts, a national initiative to raise awareness, protect access and encourage action on behalf of the arts.
The Stand For The Arts public service announcements honor local arts organizations who enrich our lives through the power of art, such as Groundswell, an NYC-based organization that brings together youth, artists, and community organizations to use art as a tool for social change for a more just and equitable world. A second PSA highlights a variety of Stand For The Arts Coalition members from across the nation, including 3Arts, BAAD! Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, H+ The Hip Hop Dance Conservatory, Jazz Power Initiative, Jazz St. Louis, and Urban Arts Partnership, showcasing the importance of diversity and black voices.
Every Friday night during its “Red Carpet Cinema” block, the arts network celebrates the Black artists who have left their mark on the art of film, including Richard Pryor and Cicely Tyson (Bustin’ Loose), Forest Whitaker and Gregory Hines (A Rage in Harlem), Denzel Washington and Patti LaBelle (A Soldier’s Story), and Morgan Freeman (The Sum of All Fears).
Starting on February 1, the arts network also highlights Black artists who have made a significant impact on the national and international stage, with series and films celebrating Comedy Greats, Legends, Trailblazers, Music Icons, and more. All titles below will be available during the month of February, free to all, on the Ovation NOW app and at the Ovation TV Watch website. The Ovation NOW app is free to download and is available on Roku, Android, Apple TV, and iOS devices.
Comedy Greats
Celebrity Conversations: David Alan Grier and Keegan-Michael Key
Comedy Legends: Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy
Inside the Actors Studio: Will Smith
Stars of the Silver Screen: Whoopi Goldberg
Eddie Murphy: Laugh Til It Hurts
Everybody Loves Chris Rock
Tyler Perry: Man of Many Faces
Will Smith: The Prince of Hollywood
Trailblazers
Celebrity Conversations: Barry Jenkins, Antoine Fuqua, and Djimon Hounsou
The Directors: Spike Lee
Icons of Our Time: Muhammad Ali
Inside the Actors Studio: Halle Berry, David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong’o, Will Smith, and Alfre Woodard
London Live: Jennifer Hudson
Beyoncé & Jay-Z: Power Love
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr: Enough is Enough
Obama: Building the Dream
Legends
Celebrity Conversations: Samuel L. Jackson
The Directors: Spike Lee
Icons of Our Time: Muhammad Ali
Stars of the Silver Screen: Whoopi Goldberg, Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman
Comedy Legends: Richard Pryor
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr: Enough is Enough
Obama: Building the Dream
Tina Turner: Simply the Best
Whitney Houston: We Will Always Love You
Music Icons
The Art Of: Music and Hip Hop
Berlin Live: Leela James, Morcheeba, and Naturally 7
Front and Center: Jon Batiste, Gary Clark, Jr, Nile Rodgers, and Seal
The Great Songwriters: Bill Withers, Chuck D, and Seal
Inside the Actors Studio: Will Smith
Legends of Opera: Jessye Norman
London Live: Jennifer Hudson
Speakeasy: Carlos Santana & Harry Belafonte, Cyndi Lauper & Billy Porter, David Crosby & Wynton Marsalis, Gary Clark, Jr & Jimmy Vaughn, Lenny Kravitz & Sean Lennon, Nile Rodgers & Valerie Simpson
Beyoncé & Jay-Z: Power Love
Hamilton: One Shot to Broadway
Listen to the World: The Musical Instrument Museum
Livin’ for Love: The Natalie Cole Story
Shakura S’Aida: Rhino Jazz Festival 2014
Tina Turner: Simply the Best
Whitney Houston: We Will Always Love You
Will Smith: The Prince of Hollywood
Zac Harmon: Rhino Jazz Festival 2016
Celebrating Black History Month
The Art Of: Fashion, H
Echoes Cross the Tracks
Hamilton: One Shot to Broadway
Listen to the World: The Musical Instrument Museum
Movies
Grandma’s House (Ovation NOW Premiere)
Livin’ for Love: The Natalie Cole Story
Olympia
The Perfect Mate
Sounder (Ovation NOW Premiere)
When It Comes Around (Ovation NOW Premiere)
About OVATION TV America’s Only Arts Network As an independent television, production, and digital media company, OVATION TV has an unparalleled commitment to the arts, culture, and captivating entertainment. Showcasing a lineup of critically acclaimed premium dramas, specials, documentaries, and iconic films, OVATION TV salutes innovative storytelling with popular programming that includes Inside the Actors Studio, Murdoch Mysteries, Riviera, Frankie Drake Mysteries, Arts Engines, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, The Fall, Midsomer Murders, The Art Of, CelebrityConversations, and TheSoundofNewYork. Ovation also powers JOURNY, the dedicated streaming service where art, culture, and travel intersect. The company has provided more than $15M in contributions and in-kind support to arts institutions and arts education. Its signature advocacy platform, STAND FOR THE ARTS, includes a coalition of over 130 arts organizations, cultural institutions, and arts leaders throughout the country raising awareness about art’s positive impact, protecting access for everyone, and encouraging action on behalf of the arts. OVATION TV is available on major providers via cable, satellite, and telco systems including Comcast Cable/Xfinity, DIRECTV/AT&T U-verse, SPECTRUM, Verizon FiOS, as well as on-demand. You can follow OVATION TV on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, OvationTV.com, and through our App, OVATION NOW.