The third annual Art of Cool Fest takes place in Durham, North Carolina next month. The festival features headliners such as Terence Blanchard, The Internet, and 9th Wonder. The three-day festival includes the Innovate Your Cool (IYC) conference at American Underground, designed “to advance innovative thinking by creating maximum collisions of intelligent people, cool ideas, and impoverished music.” You won’t want to miss this breeding ground for inspiration, conversation and good food.

If you’re lacking in inspiration, you’ll want to check out the Fireside Chat with Anthony Fraiser, one of the founders of The Phat Startup. The multifaceted “serial entrepreneur” specializes in mentoring and advising startups and tech entrepreneurs. You might even opt from a more spiritual word from Pastor Andy Thompson during the Leap of Faith session. It’s perfect for a little reassurance that you’re living your calling. If there are a few dollars standing between you and greatness, be sure to stop in for the Build The Fort lightening talk with business and finance sage, Chris Heivly.

The introspective conversation doesn’t stop there. Two of hip-hop’s most inspiring thinkers, Terrace Martin and Rapsody will sit down for a roundtable discussion on Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly. Terence Blanchard will host a fireside chat about film and music. And who better to host this convo but a native New Orleans jazz musician featured on the score of some of the most memorable Spike Lee joints?

The Innovate Your Cool conference touches on how art and can be essential to world change. The ARTivism Panel features local artists and curators that will discuss how art has impacted social movements for justice. Allison Matthews, the founder of the 2BeatHIV project will talk about how she’s integrated music, art and technology in helping find a cure for HIV.

The conference also features a Pitch Perfect innovation and creativity competition, giving high school and college students the opportunity to pitch their idea for a business that will solve one major problem. 2BeatHIV partnered with the competition to help build an app for improving community engagement.

And don’t forget the music. There are several interactive sessions, music workshops, and showcases geared towards musicians. J Rowdy, a member of the group that hosts the Guinness World Record for the world’s longest cypher, will host the city’s largest cypher, featuring rappers, singers and musicians from all over the area.

Innovate Your Cool aims to blow your mind with a session on Virtual Reality, a Hip Hopera about a robot boy, and an Iron Chef contest (Yum!). The Morehead Planetarium and Science Center even has special music and science sessions just for kids.

The Art of Cool Festival takes place Friday, May 6th — Sunday, May 8th. It’s not too late to get your tickets or to RSVP for the Innovate Your Cool conference on Saturday in downtown Durham, NC.

Can’t make it to the festival? We’ve got you! Blavity will be capturing the art, music, and excitement on Snapchat. Follow blavityfam now so you don’t miss a thing.

Can’t make it to the festival? We’ve got you! Blavity will be capturing the art, music, and excitement on Snapchat. Follow blavityfam now so you don’t miss a thing.

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