Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This week on Arizona Illustrated, see how Juneteenth is celebrated in our community—from a new art expo at The Drawing Studio to the Tucson Juneteenth Festival, which has been around for over 50 years. Plus, learn the hidden history of the Sugar Hill neighborhood, a historically Black neighborhood in midtown Tucson.
Juneteenth Art Expo
For over 150 years Juneteenth has been a celebration for African Americans across the country. Here in Tucson for the second year in a row The Drawing Studio hosts their Juneteenth Art Expo which boasts over 100 pieces of African and Pan-African Art. With painting, poetry, music, digital art, and more, they show people how they truly embody the spirit of Juneteenth.
Juneteenth in Tucson
In June 2017 Tucson came together to enjoy the 47th Annual Juneteenth Celebration at the Dunbar Spring Cultural Center, which was once a segregated school for African American students. Current Tucson residents reflect on cultural changes they have seen in their lifetimes and how much work still needs to be done.
The Hidden History of Tucson’s Sugar Hill Neighborhood
A conversation between oral historian, Sadie Shaw, and dusty funk musician, Jacki Blu, reveals the hidden history of the Sugar Hill neighborhood in Tucson, Arizona. From its formation in the 1950s, Sugar Hill was unofficially redlined for Black residents, creating a community that thrived in adversity. A combination of forces from the war on drugs to development of student housing have chipped away at the foundation of that community but residents are striving to keep it together, and keep the memories alive.
This week on Arizona Illustrated, see how Juneteenth is celebrated in our community—from a new art expo at The Drawing Studio to the Tucson Juneteenth Festival, which has been around for over 50 years. Plus, learn the hidden history of the Sugar Hill neighborhood, a historically Black neighborhood in midtown Tucson.
Juneteenth Art Expo
For over 150 years Juneteenth has been a celebration for African Americans across the country. Here in Tucson for the second year in a row The Drawing Studio hosts their Juneteenth Art Expo which boasts over 100 pieces of African and Pan-African Art. With painting, poetry, music, digital art, and more, they show people how they truly embody the spirit of Juneteenth.
Juneteenth in Tucson
In June 2017 Tucson came together to enjoy the 47th Annual Juneteenth Celebration at the Dunbar Spring Cultural Center, which was once a segregated school for African American students. Current Tucson residents reflect on cultural changes they have seen in their lifetimes and how much work still needs to be done.
The Hidden History of Tucson’s Sugar Hill Neighborhood
A conversation between oral historian, Sadie Shaw, and dusty funk musician, Jacki Blu, reveals the hidden history of the Sugar Hill neighborhood in Tucson, Arizona. From its formation in the 1950s, Sugar Hill was unofficially redlined for Black residents, creating a community that thrived in adversity. A combination of forces from the war on drugs to development of student housing have chipped away at the foundation of that community but residents are striving to keep it together, and keep the memories alive.
