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Call it the second Harlem renaissance. On New York City's 125th Street, where a statue of civil rights leader Adam Clayton Powell Jr stride forward, the area is buzzing with bustle and buzz.

A Community in Renewal

The renowned Apollo Theatre is in the middle of major renovations. The National Black Theatre is preparing to move into an $80M cultural center covering a city block. Additionally, the National Urban League recently unveiled a $250M facility containing its main offices, low-income residences and commercial areas.

“This building says to the globe: Harlem is important; Black art matters; Black institutions are crucial,” remarked the leader of the governing board. “It will serve as a beacon on this historic street, a space where art and people converge.”

Historical Foundation

This institution was founded by creators, activists, donors and community members to confront the systemic exclusion of Black artists from established museums. It opened in a rented loft above an off-licence in 1968, a traumatic year of assassinations, uprisings and societal transformation.

“This occasion resembles what it must have been like when it all began,” reflected a museum leader. “The museum was born in a time of change. Nation was split. People were marching. Creators were insisting to be seen and heard.”

Building Design

The recently completed $160M facility covers 82,000 square feet across seven levels. Created by design teams, the museum represents the first purpose-built home for the museum and almost doubles its gallery and activity areas.

The building features exhibition spaces, an expansive lobby, flexible programme spaces, a specialized learning studio, a cafe and shop, plus a rooftop terrace with sweeping urban vistas. An impressive staircase, clad in terrazzo, occupies the main atrium space.

Collection Highlights

The inaugural exhibition schedule showcases the museum's past, present and future with several key shows. One exhibition features the first institutional career survey of pioneering artist an electronic art pioneer, whose illuminated works appeared in the institution's first show.

• William T Williams's late 1960s Trane pays respect to John Coltrane
• Kerry James Marshall's iconic work addresses invisibility and African American portrayal
• Jean-Michel Basquiat's Bayou features bold strokes and mixed media elements
• The celebrated artist's first story quilt captures her community 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 presented face growing challenges. New York has recently elected a mayor who personifies 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 longtime director. “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 thrived.”

The museum celebrates its influential residency program with an alumni show including prominent figures such as Kehinde Wiley, Mickalene Thomas and conceptual painter. The display mixes recently created works with historical pieces spanning multiple decades.

Continuing Mission

Among recent acquisitions are sonic installations and three-dimensional artworks. Seven bronze time capsules created by artist Houston Conwill contain private statements by seven distinguished Black Americans, originally buried in the museum's sculpture garden in the mid-1980s and now exhibited with plans to be opened in September 2034.

Guests can explore an historical display of images and ephemera documenting the museum's history through its shows, events and activities over nearly six decades. This extensive legacy includes memorable moments ranging from royal visits to community performances that collectively demonstrate the museum's lasting influence.