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Call it the Harlem cultural resurgence. On New York City's 125th St, where a statue of civil rights leader Adam Clayton Powell Jr marches onwards and upwards, the atmosphere is buzzing with bustle and buzz.

A Community in Renewal

The celebrated Apollo Theatre is undergoing significant upgrades. The National Black Theatre is preparing to move into an $80 million cultural center covering a city block. Meanwhile, another organization recently unveiled a $250M facility containing its main offices, low-income residences and retail space.

“This building says to the world: Harlem is important; Black art is significant; Black institutions matter,” remarked the leader of the governing board. “It will serve as a lighthouse on 125th Street, a place where creativity and community meet.”

Historical Roots

This institution was established by artists, advocates, philanthropists and local residents to confront the widespread omission of Black artists from mainstream institutions. Its debut in a leased space above an liquor store 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 institutional representative. “The institution emerged in a time of change. The country was divided. People were marching. Creators were insisting to be recognized.”

Architectural Vision

The new $160M facility covers 82,000 square feet across seven levels. Designed by design teams, the museum represents the first custom-designed space for the museum and almost doubles its gallery and activity areas.

The facility features exhibition spaces, an expansive lobby, adaptable event areas, a specialized learning studio, a coffee shop and shop, plus a open-air deck with panoramic city views. An impressive staircase, finished with terrazzo, fills the main atrium space.

Collection Highlights

The opening programming showcases the museum's past, present and future with four major exhibitions. A particular display features the initial comprehensive retrospective of innovative creator an electronic art pioneer, whose electronic light sculptures appeared in the institution's first show.

• An artist's late 1960s musical tribute pays homage to John Coltrane
• Another prominent artist's iconic work confronts lack of representation and African American portrayal
• Jean-Michel Basquiat's significant painting features vigorous marks and fragments of collage
• Faith Ringgold's first story quilt captures her neighborhood in both celebratory and elegiac tones

Broader Impact

The institution's opening feels particularly significant during a period when diversity initiatives, museums and the way African American history is presented face growing challenges. The city has just chosen a leader who personifies the metropolis's multicultural character, and this neighborhood has a special ability for making cultural revival resemble defiance.

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

The museum honors its significant residency program with an former residents exhibition including prominent figures such as Kehinde Wiley, Mickalene Thomas and conceptual painter. The exhibition mixes new commissions with older artworks spanning various periods.

Continuing Mission

Including new commissions are sound-based works and sculptural pieces. Metal containers created by artist Houston Conwill contain confidential testaments by prominent African American figures, originally interred in the museum's sculpture garden in 1984 and now exhibited with plans to be opened in the year 2034.

Guests can explore an historical display of images and ephemera documenting the museum's history through its exhibitions, programs and programmes over nearly six decades. This extensive legacy includes memorable moments ranging from dignitary appearances to community performances that together demonstrate the institution's enduring impact.