If I told you that I spent an evening listening to a DJ spin a variety of world music, watching performances by dance troupes, singers — even a beatbox and trumpet duo — all while sipping on wine and nibbling away at a catered meal, you might want to know…

Where’s the party at?

Well, believe it or not, the party was at the museum!

On October 18, Newark Museum hosted the latest iteration of its “Late Thursdays” event series, which it describes as “creatively inspired social evenings that offer a fresh take on the Museum’s captivating collections, through a dynamic mix of music, food, drinks, art, and entertainment.”

This night was presented in conjunction with For Freedoms, a “platform for civic engagement, discourse, and direct action for artists in the United States.” Inspired by the “Four Freedoms” work of iconic American painter, Norman Rockwell, the organization believes that art and artists are key to protecting some of America’s base freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.

I was previously unfamiliar with For Freedoms, but I did happen to know a couple of the artists scheduled to appear, including D. Cross, the beatboxer, and Lee Hogans, the trumpeter. As someone who moved to Newark in part due to its continuing legacy as an arts city, I enjoy every opportunity to witness the talent and passion that oozes from artists from all genres and disciplines who live, work, or play in Brick City. This was my first visit to a Late Thursdays event, and I would certainly have been fine if that was all the night was going to offer.