WHY 'SPADES'?
The card game Spades holds a special place in Black culture, where it is more than just a game—it’s a beloved social tradition, a source of pride, and a way to foster community. In many Black households, learning to play Spades is considered a rite of passage and an opportunity to pass on history. Older family members often teach younger generations “unspoken rules” and strategies of the game, while also sharing stories, experiences, traditions, and often unknown history of our people.

Black theatres are vital for preserving and showcasing Black stories, voices, and perspectives, yet they often struggle to secure the resources needed to thrive. This challenge is due to many factors including historical inequities like gatekeeping and systemic racism, as well as community funding gaps and biased philanthropy to name a few. With this lack of funding as a persistent challenge, this event was created to mind the gap, marrying the opportunity to support our stories and voices with the joy and tradition of this beloved card game.

Wanna learn how to play?
https://youtu.be/Z5BTSevuuqs?si=Hig9rrA6L_Znapwr

THE PEOPLE

THE 'BLACK ARTS RUN IT' Organization:

Black Arts Run It is an emerging national arts organization dedicated to supporting Black artists and Black-led arts institutions across the country. Rooted in an initial focus on helping to sustain small Black theatre, we provide funding, strategic partnerships, and access to resources that strengthen sustainability and long-term growth. Our goal is to build lasting infrastructure that allows Black artists to thrive creatively, professionally, and economically.

Black Arts Run It is in the process of formalizing its nonprofit status. Contributions at this time are not tax-deductible.

JASMINE M RUSH - Founder, The 'Black Arts Run It' Org:

JASMINE M RUSH (she/her) is an award-winning Brooklyn-based, B L A C K Actress & Creative born and raised in Milwaukee, WI. Classically trained, she has worked nationally on stage, film, and television, and served as a coach and teacher for acting professionals around the world. Jasmine is the founder of Sweet Milk, LLC and the annual Black Arts "Run It!" Spades Fundraiser. She is a core company member of Quick Silver Theater Company (NYC) and The Grove Theatre NYC. https://www.jasminemrush.com/

Venue - Common Ground Marketplace:
Common Ground Marketplace is a Black- and woman-owned community marketplace and event space located in Brooklyn, NY. It serves as a vibrant hub dedicated to uplifting and showcasing Black-owned businesses, artists, and creatives, providing a welcoming platform for vendors to sell their goods, share their work, and build meaningful connections with the community. Through pop-up markets, curated events, and collaborative programming, Common Ground Marketplace champions entrepreneurship, cultural expression, and economic empowerment while fostering a strong sense of community and collective growth. https://www.facebook.com/commongroundmarketplace/

The National Spade Players Association:
The National Spades Players Association (NSPA) was founded with the mission of uniting Spades enthusiasts from across America and reviving its joyous spirit. This remarkable association has created a vibrant platform that brings together fans, allowing them to share their love for this classic card game. https://www.nationalspadesplayers.com/

The Grove Theatre NYC:
The Grove is a theatrical home that heals and empowers the Black community through innovation and transformative storytelling. Born from the collective vision of Nedra Marie Taylor and A.J. Muhammad, the company was founded in 2020, with the vision to build an Off-Broadway theatre complex for an by the Black Community. Through the company's mission, Black artists and the community continue the journey of growth and healing together, through the arts.

The Grove Theatre NYC is a 501(c)(3) theatre organization, graciously sponsoring this fundraiser with use of their charitable org status and serving as BARI's fiscal sponsor. https://www.thegrovenyc.com/

NY Beauty Suites:
NY Beauty Suites is a flexible beauty and wellness workspace in Brooklyn, NYC offering private, on-demand salon and treatment suites for licensed and insured beauty professionals. It provides a professional environment where "beautypreneurs" can grow their businesses, host clients, and connect with a vibrant community of independent stylists, estheticians, and wellness providers, all under one roof. https://nybeautysuites.com/

Sweet Milk:
Sweet Milk is a Black-owned, woman-led creative house producing original artistic work across theatre, film, and new media. Centering Black and marginalized voices, Sweet Milk supports artists through production, education, and collaborative programming, and selectively partners with nonprofit organizations for mission-aligned initiatives.

Additional Participant Prizes - provided by NSPA

Event Prizes Included in Disbursement: ( ) = Prize Values

1st Place Team

(2) First Place Medals

(2) Complementary 7-Nights Resort Getaways* ($4,326)

(2) Complementary Airfare & 2-Nights Hotel for Two* ($1,998)

(2) Complementary $200 Hotel Savings Certificates* ($400)

(2) Complementary $100 Restaurant Certificates* ($200)

(2) Premium Quality True Wireless Earbuds* ($129)

2nd Place Team

(2) Second Place Medals

(2) Complementary Airfare & 2-Nights Hotel for Two* ($1,998)

(2) Complementary $200 Hotel Savings Certificates* ($400)

(2) Complementary $100 Restaurant Certificates* ($200)

(2) Premium Quality True Wireless Earbuds* ($129)

3rd Place Team

(2) Complementary $200 Hotel Savings Certificates* ($400)

(2) Complementary $100 Restaurant Certificates* ($200)

4th Place Team

(2) Complementary $200 Hotel Savings Certificates* ($400)

(2) Complementary $100 Restaurant Certificates* ($200)

All Other Tournament Teams will receive:

$200 Travel-Dining Certificates - PDF Scan (Scan to Redeem)*

Other Additional Prizes: (Giveaways, Door Prizes, etc.)

Other Complementary Prizes*

* Note: Each Certificate has a unique redemption number that can only be used once. Real Vacations. No Sales Presentations Guaranteed! (terms, taxes, and fees apply - see redemption website for details)

Tournament Agenda - Most Wins Format (16-64 Teams) (4hrs)

6:00pm – 10:00pm (Or any 4-hour time period.)

6:00 PM - 6:30 PM

Team Check-In

Teams present their tournament entry tickets and receive their tournament credentials, table assignments,

pre-tournament welcome announcements, and final Instructions. The tournament starts promptly at

12:30pm, but late entries and walk-up teams will be allowed until 1:30pm.

6:30 PM

Tournament Play Begins

This Tournament features a most wins format. A team must beat their opponent in their game to 300 points in order to register a win. Any Team with two (2) sets in a single game automatically losses that game.

At the conclusion of each game, both teams sign the score sheet and a representative of the winning brings the sheet up to the registration table so that their win can be recorded. The winning team remains at their table and the losing team moves to another table to face another winning team.

(There will also be sponsor announcements, door prizes, etc., during tournament play.)

9:30PM

Tournament Play Ends

Any games that started before this time will be completed and count towards recorded wins. No games are allowed to start after this time.

The team who registers the most wins in the allotted tournament time is the first-place winner of the tournament. If there is a tie in the number of wins, the two teams tied will play a 1-game playoff to determine the winner and finishing place. The team who registers the second most wins is the second-place winner, third most wins is the third-place winner, etc.

9:45 PM – 10:00 PM

Presentation of Championship Awards

Presentation of the Champions’ Medals, Checks, Prizes, etc.!

NSPA General Tournament Rules – (Most Wins Format)

If you're like most people, you have probably played multiple times with friends and family with different rules every time. Below are the "house rules" specific to this function. If you don't know how to play Spades, learn here!

*All NSPA Spades Tournaments are open to the public for adults 21 years of age or older. Each team must consist of two (2) players. The team who registers the most wins the first-place winner of the tournament.

THE DECK

- 52-card standard deck containing no Jokers.

- Ace will be the high card in each suit, and will follow accordingly: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Ten, etc.

THE DEAL

- Cards will be dealt clockwise with a cut to the right.

- No French cutting.

- All 52 cards will be dealt to players with no kitty.

- There will be no surrendering of your hand because of the lack of spades, face cards, etc., a player must play each hand dealt.

BIDDING & PLAY

- Each individual will bid their own hand, starting with the dealer, and moving clockwise. The sum of your team player’s

individual bids will be the bid for your team for that dealt hand.

- Minimum team bid of four (4) per hand. (No nil bidding.)

- Once the bids are recorded play will start with the first person on the left of the dealer.

- A player may lead with any suit they choose, but a player may not “cut” or “trump” a book unless they do not possess

any cards of the lead suit.

- If a team catches another team “reneging”, then upon producing the exact book or trick that the infraction occurred,

the team will be awarded three (3) of the other team’s books.

SCORING (Scoring will be based on multiples of 10 and -10.)

Example: Team XYZ bids 6 books

• If team XYZ gets 6 books or tricks, then their score for that hand would be 60.

• If team XYZ makes over their bid, let’s say in this case eight (8) books, then the teams score would be sixty (60) points for making their bid plus two (2) points for going two (2) over their bid for a total of sixty-two (62) points.

• If a team gets any amount under their bid (set), in this case 1,2,3,4, or 5 books, then the team gets -10 times their bid, or in this case -60. (Any Team with two (2) sets in a single game automatically losses that game.)

• If a bid of ten (10) is reached, then the team will get a bonus of 100 points added to their score at that point.

Registering Your Wins

This Tournament features a most wins format. A team must beat their opponent in their game to 300 points in order to register a win. Any Team with two (2) sets in a single game automatically losses that game.

At the conclusion of each game, both teams sign the score sheet and a representative of the winning brings the sheet up to the registration table so that their win can be recorded. The winning team remains at their table and the losing team moves to another table to face another winning team.

The team who registers the most wins in the allotted tournament time is the first-place winner of the tournament. If there is a tie in the number of wins, the two teams tied will play a 1-game playoff to determine the winner and finishing place. The team who registers the second most wins is the second-place winner, third most wins is the third-place winner, etc.

*Note: Talking across the table, passing cards, hand signals, or any other activity that constitutes cheating will not be tolerated and are ground for immediate ejection. A warning may or may not be issued before ejection.

Hold Harmless Agreement

All participants agree to protect, defend, indemnify and hold JASMINE M RUSH, Common Ground Marketplace, NY Beauty Suites, National Spades Players Association, The Grove Theatre NYC, its officers, employees, and agents free and harmless from any and all losses, penalties, damages, settlements, costs, charges, professional fees, or other expenses or liabilities of every kind and character arising out of or relating to any and all claims, liens, demands, obligations, actions, proceedings, or causes of action of every kind and character in connection with or arising directly or indirectly out of this agreement and/or respond to, provide defense for and defend any such claims, etc., at his/her sole expense and agrees to bear all other costs and expenses related there to, even if it (claims, etc.) is groundless, false, or fraudulent.

Fundraising - Charitable Org Sponsorship

The Grove Theatre NYC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit theatre organization, graciously sponsoring this fundraiser with use of their charitable org status, and serving as BARI's fiscal sponsor.

2nd Annual Black Arts Run It Spades Fundraiser

By Jasmine Rush

2nd Annual Black Arts Run It Spades Fundraiser

NEW YEAR, NEW HAND!! Pull up, get your game face on, and help support Black Theatre!