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Consider it the new Harlem rebirth. On Manhattan's 125th St, where a statue of civil rights leader Adam Clayton Powell Jr stride forward, the atmosphere is filled with energy and excitement.

A Community in Transformation

The famous Apollo Theatre is undergoing major renovations. The National Black Theatre is preparing to move into an $80M arts complex covering a entire block. Meanwhile, the National Urban League recently unveiled a $250M facility containing its main offices, affordable housing and retail space.

“This building says to the world: Harlem is important; Black art is significant; Black institutions matter,” stated the chairman of the board of trustees. “It will stand as a lighthouse on this historic street, a space where creativity and community converge.”

Historical Foundation

This institution was founded by creators, activists, donors and local residents to address the systemic exclusion of African American artists from established museums. It opened in a rented loft above an liquor store in 1968, a traumatic year of assassinations, protests and social change.

“This occasion resembles what it must have been like when it all started,” noted a museum leader. “The institution emerged in a time of change. Nation was split. People were marching. Artists were demanding to be seen and heard.”

Building Design

The new $160M structure covers 82,000 square feet across seven floors. Designed by architectural firms, the building constitutes the first custom-designed space for the institution and almost doubles its gallery and activity areas.

The facility features exhibition spaces, an large entrance hall, flexible programme spaces, a dedicated education workshop, a cafe and shop, plus a rooftop terrace with panoramic city views. A monumental stair, finished with terrazzo, occupies the central vertical gallery.

Collection Highlights

The inaugural exhibition schedule showcases the institution's history and aspirations with several key shows. One exhibition features the first institutional career survey of pioneering artist an electronic art pioneer, whose electronic light sculptures appeared in the institution's first show.

• An artist's late 1960s Trane pays homage to John Coltrane
• Another prominent artist's Silence Is Golden confronts lack of representation and African American portrayal
• Jean-Michel Basquiat's significant painting features bold strokes and fragments of collage
• Faith Ringgold's first story quilt captures her neighborhood in both celebratory and elegiac tones

Broader Impact

The museum's arrival feels especially meaningful during a time when inclusion programs, cultural institutions and the way African American history is told face increased scrutiny. New York has recently elected a mayor who personifies the city's cultural diversity, and Harlem has a special ability for making cultural revival resemble resistance.

“Harlem has always been evolving,” commented a longtime director. “It's a district that has been evolving since it was established. But this area has also been a neighbourhood where African American culture has thrived.”

This institution celebrates its influential artist-in-residence programme with an alumni show including prominent figures such as Kehinde Wiley, mixed-media artist and conceptual painter. The exhibition combines new commissions with historical pieces spanning multiple decades.

Continuing Mission

Among new commissions are sonic installations and sculptural pieces. Seven bronze time capsules created by artist Houston Conwill contain private statements by seven distinguished Black Americans, originally interred in the institution's outdoor space in 1984 and now on display with plans to be opened in the year 2034.

Visitors can explore an historical display of images and memorabilia documenting the institution's journey through its shows, programs and activities over almost sixty years. This rich history includes memorable moments ranging from royal visits to local presentations that collectively illustrate the institution's enduring impact.