The Summer Jam Collab at Riverside Arts Market to Feature Nearly 50 Black Artists, Makers, and Black-Owned Businesses
Curated by the Melanin Collaborative Group, vendors regularly featured at the organization's Melanin Market will take over the Artist Walk Plaza on Saturday, July 11
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jacksonville, Fla. (July 1, 2026) - For the second time this year, Riverside Arts Market (RAM) and the Melanin Collaborative Group (MCG) will partner to highlight local Black artists, makers, and Black-owned businesses with its Summer Jam Collab on Saturday, July 11. Nearly 50 vendors from MCG’s Melanin Market will set up at RAM in the Artist Walk Plaza area, which is on the west side of Riverside Avenue, offering their local products and services to RAM shoppers, including categories such as food and drink, baked goods, skin and body care, clothing and jewelry, home decor, and art. The addition of these vendors will increase the amount of vendors at RAM on July 11 by nearly 30 percent.
In addition to the Melanin Market vendors, DJ Tuggie will spin vintage R&B and old school tracks appropriate for all ages in the Artist Walk Plaza, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
About Riverside Arts Market
Produced by Riverside Avondale Preservation (RAP), the Riverside Arts Market, colloquially known as RAM, is a true loyal-to-local market featuring more than 150 artists, farmers, makers, and entrepreneurs from the immediate region. Founded in 2009, RAM also includes the River Stage, offering the community free entertainment through local musical, dance, and other cultural interest activities. RAM operates every Saturday, rain or shine, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, visit www.riversideartsmarket.org.
About Melanin Collaborative Group
Melanin Collaborative Group (MCG) is a community-driven cultural and economic development organization dedicated to uplifting Black-owned businesses, creatives, and communities through strategic programming, marketplace activations, and heritage-centered experiences. As the driving force behind initiatives such as the Melanin Market, Buy Black Bus Blitz Tours, Black History Parades, and community festivals, MCG creates platforms where culture, commerce, and community intersect.
MCG is deeply committed to strengthening local African American business owners as the economic engine of thriving communities. Through vendor marketplaces, youth programming, entrepreneurship development, arts initiatives, and historic preservation efforts, MCG builds sustainable pathways for business growth, visibility, and generational wealth while celebrating Black excellence and legacy.
For more information or partnership opportunities, visit Melanincollaborativegroup.org or contact Info@jaxmelaninmarket.com.
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