Suggested donation $15

Learn from the internationally renowned balafon and percussion master Mamadou Diabate! No experience necessary, learn to play African instruments including the balafon, djembe, and other African percussion instruments.

Mamadou Diabate was born into a traditional musician family (Sambla people) in Burkina Faso (West Africa), with a long tradition of practising the profession of story telling and music making. At the age of 5 he started his professional training with his father Penegue Diabate, who in his days was considered the best balafon player far beyond the bordes of the sambla culture. At 8 he began with his apprenticeship years with renowned balafonists of neighboring peoples. In 1988 and 1998 he won the first prize of the “National Culture Week” of Burkina Faso. He currently lives in Austria. With his group Percussion Mania he won the Austrian World Music Award (2011) and the Grand Prix of the “Triangle du Balafon” Competition in Mali (2012). For his virtuosity, he was there also honored with the “Prix Alkaly Camara de la virtuosité”. www.mamadoudiabate.com

Welcome to the Beginner’s Comics with Cartoonist Wayne Carter event!

Join us at Claremont Creative Center on February 21, 2026 at 11:00 AM, Wayne will guide you through the basics of creating your own comics. Bring yourself, a sketchbook, and maybe a friend to practice cartooning! Supplies and materials will be provided. Suggested donation of $15 dollars ($10 for students)

Wayne Carter is a Cartoonist and Educator living in Vermont. Wayne is an Alum from the Center for Cartoon studies and recently finished a Residency for the National Parks Service.

You can find more of his work at @pinkclownoress on Instagram.