ConFluence: A Cultured Multiverse

The ConFluence Planning Team and Public Functionary are doing this one for the culture. So bring your beautiful, nerdy selves to a two-day celebration of art, sci-fi, futurisms, and fantasy–– centered on content by and for Black people, Indigenous people, and People of Color. ConFluence has been dreamt up over the past year to be a creative, inclusive, and liberating space where everyone can feel connected, inspired, and seen. Every ConFluence attendee will have access to creative workshops, panel discussions, a cosplay contest, a vendor marketplace, a gaming area, a curated visual art exhibition, and a dope retro-themed evening dance party you don’t want to miss. Also featured––culinary delights for purchase from PF Cafe.

Purchase Tickets Here

ConFluence producer Leslie Barlow shared, “I started attending sci-fi conventions 13 years ago. I’ve made some incredible friends and memories at con, and spaces like this are so freeing and necessary. However, after experiencing disappointment over the years in the limited BIPOC representation in panel and workshop topic content, featured guests and vendors...I wanted to see if it was possible to carve out another kind of experience. Leading ConFluence is a dream. My hope is that ConFluence is a gathering place that is fun, nerdy, inclusive, inspiring, and liberatory. And that folks who maybe think comic-con isn’t ‘for them’ find this event to be the gateway to a multiverse of possibilities.” 

ConFluence takes place on Saturday, November 18th and Sunday, November 19th, 2023, from 10am - 8pm both days. A dance party is scheduled for Saturday night from 8pm - midnight. Convention activities take place in several spaces within the Northrup King Building (1500 Jackson Street NE Minneapolis, MN 55413) that include the Public Functionary gallery spaces, the Northrup King gallery, and a few nearby artist studios. ConFluence is a convention centering the voices, presence, stories, liberation and joy of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, and is being produced by a multiethnic, multicultural volunteer team of artists and organizers. Tickets currently start at $20 as a part of the Early-Bird promotion (available until October 1st before they go to their regular rate) and each ticket purchased goes towards making ConFluence possible. Every ticket includes a free swag bag.

Every ConFluence attendee will have access to creative workshops, panel discussions, a cosplay contest, a vendor marketplace, a gaming area, a curated visual art exhibition, and a retro-themed evening dance party. Culinary delights will be available for purchase all weekend from PF Cafe.

ConFluence will feature Special Guests like Harry Waters Jr. – most famous for his portrayal of Marvin Berry in Back to the Future (1985) which earned him a Gold record for his rendition of “Earth Angel”. Panels will include deep dives into topics and themes like A.I., Afrofuturism, Film and Gaming Musical Scores, and Representation in Fandom, and workshops like Special FX Makeup with artist and storyteller Jamie Kalakaru-Mava offer opportunities for attendees to learn new creative skills. Art will be infused into everything, with site-specific decor and installations created by Bayou Bay, Jordan Hamilton, Joy Spika, and Clara Blue Baker-Myhre. Ashley Koudou, PF Studios artist and owner of Mango Day, is also part of the organizing team as the ConFluence project manager. “What a great way to participate in my first con! Working on projects like

ConFluence is exactly why I started my business. Seeing artists and creatives of color come together to uplift our communities is what we strive for. Also the idea of dressing as my favorite anime character on the job is definitely a plus,” Ashley shared.

ConFluence is supported by generous sponsorship from the local and regional community: Eastside Co-op, 10,000 Lakes Gaming, Smart Set, Blick Art Materials, Mind’s Eye Comics, Du Nord Social Spirits, BLNCD, Chicago Public Skills, Northrup King Building, Public Functionary, and Mango Day.