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Call it the second Harlem renaissance. On Manhattan's 125th St, where a statue of civil rights leader Adam Clayton Powell Jr marches onwards and upwards, the area is buzzing with bustle and buzz.

A Neighborhood in Renewal

The renowned Apollo Theater is undergoing major renovations. Another cultural institution is preparing to move into an $80 million cultural center covering a entire block. Additionally, another organization recently unveiled a $250M building containing its headquarters, low-income residences and retail space.

“This building says to the globe: Harlem matters; Black art is significant; Black institutions matter,” stated the chairman of the board of trustees. “It will serve as a beacon on this historic street, a place where creativity and community converge.”

Historical Foundation

This institution was established by artists, activists, philanthropists and local residents to address the systemic exclusion of Black artists from mainstream institutions. Its debut in a rented loft over an liquor store in the late 1960s, a traumatic year of political murders, protests and social change.

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

Architectural Vision

The new $160M structure spans 82,000 sq ft across seven levels. Created by design teams, the museum constitutes the first custom-designed home for the museum and nearly doubles its gallery and activity areas.

The building 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. An impressive staircase, finished with terrazzo, fills the central vertical gallery.

Notable Artworks

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

• An artist's late 1960s Trane pays respect to John Coltrane
• Another prominent artist's iconic work confronts lack of representation and Black representation
• Jean-Michel Basquiat's Bayou features bold strokes and fragments of collage
• The celebrated artist's first story quilt captures her community in both joyful and elegiac tones

Cultural Significance

The museum's arrival feels particularly significant during a period when diversity initiatives, cultural institutions and the way Black history is told face increased scrutiny. The city has recently elected a mayor who personifies the metropolis's multicultural character, and Harlem has a special ability for making renaissance resemble resistance.

“Harlem has always been evolving,” commented a longtime director. “This is a neighbourhood that has been evolving since it was established. But Harlem has also been a community where Black culture has thrived.”

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

Continuing Mission

Including recent acquisitions are sonic installations and three-dimensional artworks. Metal containers created by sculptor Houston Conwill contain confidential testaments 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 the year 2034.

Guests can explore an archival presentation of images and memorabilia documenting the museum's history through its exhibitions, events and programmes over almost sixty years. This rich history includes notable occasions ranging from royal visits to community performances that collectively demonstrate the institution's enduring impact.