When three of Chicago’s leading curators of culture and cool got together in spring of 2015, Party Noire originated as a simple yet profound idea to bring together black creative millennials in a positive, joyful atmosphere.
Within one year, Party Noire gained recognition as Chicago’s Best Dance Party, but also as something much more meaningful: as the central and singular hub for Black Joy in Chicago.
Party Noire co-founders Nick Alder, Lauren Ash, and DJ Rae Chardonnay have cultivated a community and a very intentional space for uplifting and affirming the lives of Black women across the gender spectrum. The co-founders each have impressive individual projects and loyal followers and have beautifully merged together their collective passion for black culture, creativity, and joy to curate what is now recognized as Chicago’s most exciting new day party and hub of one of Chicago’s most interesting subcultures.
During 2016, an era forever marked by police brutality, political divisiveness, and the rise of Black Lives Matter, Party Noire provided a balm to calamity, a safe haven for free expression, and a powerful collective for change and possibility.
This short film highlights joyous moments from 2016, valuable community members and leaders within Party Noire, and the co-founders themselves sharing what Party Noire has meant for them.
