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Consider it the new Harlem rebirth. On New York City's 125th Street, where a statue of Adam Clayton Powell Jr marches forward, the area is filled with energy and excitement.

A Neighborhood in Transformation

The celebrated Apollo Theater is undergoing major renovations. Another cultural institution is preparing to move into an $80 million cultural center spanning a city block. Additionally, the National Urban League recently unveiled a $250M building containing its main offices, low-income residences and retail space.

“This structure declares to the world: Harlem matters; Black art matters; Black institutions matter,” stated the leader of the board of trustees. “It will stand as a lighthouse on this historic street, a place where art and people converge.”

Historical Roots

This institution was founded by artists, advocates, philanthropists and local residents to address the widespread omission of African American artists from established museums. Its debut in a leased space over an off-licence in the late 1960s, a traumatic year of political murders, protests and social change.

“This occasion resembles what it must have felt 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 recognized.”

Building Design

The new $160 million structure spans 82,000 sq ft across seven floors. Designed by design teams, the museum constitutes the first custom-designed space for the museum and almost doubles its gallery and activity areas.

The facility features exhibition spaces, an expansive lobby, flexible programme spaces, a specialized learning studio, a coffee shop and shop, plus a rooftop terrace with panoramic city views. A monumental stair, finished with terrazzo, fills the main atrium space.

Collection Highlights

The opening exhibition schedule showcases 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 homage to John Coltrane
• Kerry James Marshall's iconic work confronts lack of representation and Black representation
• Jean-Michel Basquiat's Bayou features bold strokes and fragments of collage
• Faith Ringgold's first story quilt captures her neighborhood in both joyful and mournful tones

Broader Impact

The institution's opening feels particularly significant during a period when inclusion programs, cultural institutions and the way Black history is presented face increased scrutiny. New York has recently elected a leader who embodies the metropolis's multicultural character, and Harlem has a particular talent for making renaissance 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 African American culture has flourished.”

This institution celebrates its significant residency program with an alumni show including notable names such as contemporary portraitist, mixed-media artist and Titus Kaphar. The display combines new commissions with historical pieces spanning various periods.

Continuing Mission

Among new commissions are sound-based works and sculptural pieces. Metal containers created by artist Houston Conwill contain private statements by prominent African American figures, originally buried in the institution's outdoor space in 1984 and now exhibited with plans to be unveiled in September 2034.

Guests can explore an archival presentation of photographs and ephemera documenting the institution's journey through its exhibitions, events and activities over almost sixty years. This extensive legacy includes memorable moments ranging from dignitary appearances to community performances that together demonstrate the institution's enduring impact.