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Dubbed as the second Harlem renaissance. On Manhattan's 125th Street, where a sculpture of civil rights leader Adam Clayton Powell Jr stride forward, the area is buzzing with bustle and buzz.

A Community in Transformation

The famous Apollo Theatre is undergoing significant upgrades. Another cultural institution is set to relocate into an $80M arts complex covering a entire block. Additionally, another organization recently opened a $250 million building containing its headquarters, low-income residences and commercial areas.

“This building says to the world: Harlem is important; Black art is significant; Black institutions are crucial,” stated the leader of the board of trustees. “It will stand as a lighthouse on this historic street, a place where art and people meet.”

Historical Foundation

This institution was established by artists, advocates, philanthropists and local residents to address the systemic exclusion of Black artists from established museums. It opened in a rented loft above an liquor store in the late 1960s, a turbulent year of assassinations, uprisings and societal transformation.

“This moment feels what it must have been like when it all began,” noted a museum leader. “The institution emerged in a world of flux. The country was divided. Citizens were protesting. Artists were demanding to be seen and heard.”

Building Design

The new $160 million facility covers 82,000 sq ft across seven floors. Created by design teams, the museum constitutes the first purpose-built home for the museum and nearly doubles its gallery and activity areas.

The facility features exhibition spaces, an expansive lobby, flexible programme spaces, a dedicated education workshop, a coffee shop and retail store, plus a rooftop terrace with panoramic city views. A monumental stair, clad in terrazzo, occupies the central vertical gallery.

Notable Artworks

The opening exhibition schedule showcases the institution's history and aspirations with four major exhibitions. A particular display features the initial comprehensive retrospective of innovative creator Tom Lloyd, whose illuminated works appeared in the museum's inaugural 1968 exhibition.

• An artist's late 1960s Trane pays homage to jazz legend
• Kerry James Marshall's iconic work confronts lack of representation and Black representation
• The renowned artist's significant painting features bold strokes and fragments of collage
• The celebrated artist's first story quilt captures her community in both joyful and elegiac tones

Broader Impact

The institution's opening feels especially meaningful during a time when inclusion programs, cultural institutions and the way African American history is told face increased scrutiny. The city has just chosen a leader who embodies the city's cultural diversity, and Harlem has a particular talent for making cultural revival resemble resistance.

“This community has constantly transformed,” observed a longtime director. “It's a district that has been changing since it was founded. But Harlem has also been a community where Black culture has thrived.”

This institution celebrates its significant residency program with an alumni show including prominent figures such as Kehinde Wiley, Mickalene Thomas and Titus Kaphar. The display mixes new commissions with older artworks spanning various periods.

Continuing Mission

Among recent acquisitions are sonic installations and sculptural pieces. Seven bronze time capsules created by sculptor Houston Conwill contain private statements by prominent African American figures, originally buried in the institution's outdoor space in the mid-1980s and now on display with plans to be opened in the year 2034.

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