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Call it the new Harlem rebirth. On New York City's 125th St, where a sculpture of Adam Clayton Powell Jr stride onwards and upwards, the atmosphere is filled with bustle and buzz.

A Community in Renewal

The celebrated Apollo Theatre is undergoing significant upgrades. Another cultural institution is preparing to move into an $80M cultural center spanning a city block. Meanwhile, another organization recently opened a $250M building containing its main offices, affordable housing and commercial areas.

“This structure declares to the world: Harlem is important; Black art matters; Black institutions matter,” stated the chairman of the board of trustees. “It will serve as a beacon on this historic street, a space where creativity and community converge.”

Historical Foundation

This institution was established by artists, advocates, philanthropists and community members to address the systemic exclusion of African American artists from mainstream institutions. Its debut in a rented loft over an liquor store in the late 1960s, a turbulent year of assassinations, uprisings and social change.

“This occasion resembles what it must have felt like when it all began,” reflected a museum leader. “The museum was born in a world of flux. The country was divided. Citizens were protesting. Artists were demanding to be seen and heard.”

Architectural Vision

The new $160 million facility covers 82,000 square feet across seven floors. Created by architectural firms, the museum constitutes the first custom-designed space for the museum and nearly doubles its gallery and activity areas.

The building features exhibition spaces, an expansive lobby, flexible programme spaces, a dedicated education workshop, a cafe and retail store, plus a open-air deck with sweeping urban vistas. An impressive staircase, clad in terrazzo, occupies the central vertical gallery.

Notable Artworks

The opening programming reflects the museum's past, present and future with four major exhibitions. One exhibition features the first institutional career survey of innovative creator Tom Lloyd, whose electronic light sculptures appeared in the museum's inaugural 1968 exhibition.

• William T Williams's late 1960s musical tribute pays respect to John Coltrane
• Another prominent artist's Silence Is Golden confronts invisibility and African American portrayal
• The renowned artist's significant painting features bold strokes and fragments of collage
• The celebrated artist's initial narrative textile captures her community in both joyful and elegiac tones

Broader Impact

The museum's arrival feels particularly significant during a period when diversity initiatives, cultural institutions and the way Black history is presented face increased scrutiny. The city has recently elected a leader who embodies the city's cultural diversity, and this neighborhood has a special ability for making cultural revival resemble resistance.

“This community has constantly transformed,” commented a senior leader. “This is a neighbourhood that has been evolving since it was founded. But this area has also been a neighbourhood where Black culture has flourished.”

The museum honors its influential residency program with an alumni show including prominent figures such as Kehinde Wiley, mixed-media artist and conceptual painter. The exhibition combines recently created works with historical pieces spanning multiple decades.

Continuing Mission

Including recent acquisitions are sonic installations and three-dimensional artworks. Seven bronze time capsules created by artist Houston Conwill contain private statements by prominent African American figures, originally interred in the museum's sculpture garden in the mid-1980s and now on display with plans to be unveiled in the year 2034.

Guests can explore an historical display of photographs and memorabilia documenting the institution's journey through its exhibitions, programs and activities over nearly six decades. This rich history includes notable occasions ranging from royal visits to local presentations that together illustrate the museum's lasting influence.