There’s perhaps no more appropriate day to celebrate African-American contributions to the arts than Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday.

And it’s on that day, Thursday, that the African-American Voice will be presented at the Regional Arts Center by the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council’s African-American Advisory Committee. The free event starts at 6 p.m.

“This year the program happens to fall on Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday,” said Dr. Teretha Harper, a member of the committee.

Special moments from King’s life with be part of the presentation, starting with a lighting ceremony to begin the program.

The night offers a variety of different African-American vocalists, musicians and even poets who will share their talents.

“We think it’s going to be a wonderful program,” said Harper. “This year it just seems to be forming to be a wonderful and exciting program.”

Poems by Maya Angelou, a rendition of “Georgia on my Mind,” praise dances, the blues and jazz tunes, and a local men’s choir are just part of what’s in store for the evening. It will be capped off by a rendition of “America the Beautiful” sung be the performers and audience.

Harper said this Occasional Thursday event has been growing through the years.

“We do try to improve it each year,” she said, noting the committee is going strong at TRAHC and, like other TRAHC subgroups such as Women for the Arts, is there to increase support for TRAHC and its activities.

“It’s all about growing people and the community through the arts,” said Harper.

The group also intends to do something in March to celebrate the Bryan Collier exhibit, which opens Tuesday, and will hold a reader’s theater event in April.

The 6th Annual Regional Celebration of African-American Artists, an exhibit of local and regional artists, also opens next week.