Just a neighborhood tip. There is a party being hosted for African diplomats at future Museum of African Art on 1280 Fifth Ave- East Harlem. You can see a lot of activity as party is setting up and trucks of tables and catering equipment can be seen going in and out of the building.
As far as the Museum's opening date goes, it has been delayed several times because of funding issues at each phase. Does anyone have an other updates?
There was a recent NY Times article on the "museum." nyti.ms/19Pbiie As far as I understand most of the museum staff is long gone, just development people and some curators still associated but mostly working on fundraising to get the new project off by 2015. It's supposed to be a public policy research/interest? center on Africa: New Africa Center.
ReplyDeleteThe Museum of Africa Art is being rebranded as the New Africa Center. With no comparable institution to be found in the United States (and certainly none with the resources and position offered by a Museum Mile pedigree) the new institution—tentatively designated The New Africa Center—will retain a museum at its core but expand to include centers for policy, performance, education, and collaboration, with the ambition to become the premier destination for dialogue on critical issues of the day facing the development, understanding, and advancement of the African continent, its citizens, and its art. The scale, quality and location of the building will position it as the world’s leading institution dedicated to Africa. The New Africa Center will entail a new governance structure focused around one chief executive and have six distinct parts:
ReplyDelete• A Museum devoted to traditional and contemporary African art, and art of the African diaspora;
• A policy Institute that will address the most critical issues relating to the development of the continent;
• An Executive Members’ Club to serve as a networking and home-away-from-home hub for business, political and cultural leaders;
• An Education Center with workshop and learning space for children and young adults;
• A multi-purpose Theater and Lecture Hall for live performance by professional and community organizations, Museum “overflow” exhibition space, community exhibition space, as well as a diverse range of lectures, press conferences, debates, and panels;
• A Café and Gift Shop that will serve as a welcoming space for the local community, visitors and students; and be the premier retailer of Africa-related merchandise and an unparalleled resource center for Africa-related educational books, exhibition catalogues and exclusive museum related publications and digital media.