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Consider it the second Harlem renaissance. On New York City's 125th Street, where a statue of civil rights leader Adam Clayton Powell Jr marches onwards and upwards, the area is buzzing with energy and excitement.

A Neighborhood in Renewal

The celebrated Apollo Theater is undergoing major renovations. The National Black Theatre is preparing to move into an $80 million arts complex spanning a entire block. Additionally, the National Urban League recently unveiled a $250M facility containing its headquarters, affordable housing and commercial areas.

“This structure declares to the world: Harlem is important; Black art matters; Black institutions matter,” remarked the chairman of the board of trustees. “It will serve as a beacon on 125th Street, a space where art and people meet.”

Historical Foundation

This institution was founded by artists, advocates, philanthropists and community members to confront the systemic exclusion of African American artists from established museums. Its debut in a leased space over an off-licence in the late 1960s, a turbulent year of political murders, uprisings and social change.

“This moment feels what it must have been like when it all began,” noted a museum leader. “The institution emerged in a time of change. The country was divided. People were marching. Artists were demanding to be recognized.”

Building Design

The new $160 million structure covers 82,000 sq ft across seven levels. Designed by architectural firms, the museum constitutes the first custom-designed space for the institution and almost doubles its gallery and activity areas.

The building features galleries, an expansive lobby, flexible programme spaces, a dedicated education workshop, a cafe and shop, plus a rooftop terrace with panoramic city views. An impressive staircase, clad in terrazzo, fills 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 first institutional career survey of innovative creator an electronic art pioneer, whose electronic light sculptures appeared in the museum's inaugural 1968 exhibition.

• An artist's 1969 abstract musical tribute pays homage to John Coltrane
• Kerry James Marshall's Silence Is Golden addresses invisibility and Black representation
• The renowned artist's Bayou features bold strokes and fragments of collage
• The celebrated artist's first story quilt captures her community in both celebratory and elegiac tones

Cultural Significance

The museum's arrival feels particularly significant during a time when diversity initiatives, museums and the way Black history is presented face growing challenges. The city has just chosen a mayor who personifies the city's cultural diversity, and this neighborhood has a special ability for making cultural revival resemble resistance.

“Harlem has always been evolving,” observed a senior leader. “This is a neighbourhood that has been changing since it was established. But this area has also been a community where African American culture has flourished.”

The museum celebrates its significant artist-in-residence programme with an former residents exhibition including prominent figures such as Kehinde Wiley, Mickalene Thomas and Titus Kaphar. The exhibition combines recently created works with historical pieces spanning various periods.

Continuing Mission

Among recent acquisitions are sonic installations and three-dimensional artworks. Metal containers created by artist Houston Conwill contain private statements by seven distinguished Black Americans, originally interred in the institution's outdoor space in the mid-1980s and now on display with plans to be opened in September 2034.

Guests can explore an archival presentation of images and memorabilia documenting the museum's history through its exhibitions, events and activities over nearly six decades. This extensive legacy includes notable occasions ranging from royal visits to local presentations that collectively demonstrate the museum's lasting influence.