Supporting African American Art and Artists: Museum Special Interest Groups (Addendum)

This is an update to a previous blog post from August 13, 2010, focusing on ways in which the general public can support and serve as advocates for African American art and artists within "mainstream art museums". Since that initial post, five additional museums have been identified that have friends/affiliate groups with an African American focus.

If you are one who who has a strong interest in works produced by African American artists, in preserving works by these artists, and continuing a legacy where these works exist for the general public, then you might be interested in supporting institutions and causes that are important to your beliefs and values. One way to get involved is to join an affiliate group or even serve as a volunteer at one of the institutions. As it relates to art organizations, even the smallest contributions are a vital part of the fundraising landscape, and assures that you are a part of a philanthropic effort to support museums, assuring that there is a continual documentation and appreciation of the fine arts. 

Membership and dues to these various affiliate groups are for one year and are in addition to base membership categories.

Augusta, Georgia

Morris Museum of Art

Friends of African American Art is an affiliate group of the Morris Museum of Art; its focus is to promote a "deeper understanding and appreciation of the contributions of African Americans to the culture of the South by providing social events and educational programs and involving members in the continuing growth of the museum's collection". 

Baltimore, Maryland

Baltimore Museum of Art

Joshua Johnson Council (JJC) was founded in 1984 and is one of the oldest African American museum support groups in the country. "Named after an 18th-century African American portrait painter who lived and worked in Maryland, its mission is to forge meaningful connections between Baltimore's African American communities and the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA). JJC strengthens the BMA's presence in these communities by promoting and highlighting the achievements of African American artists."

Charlotte, North Carolina

Mint Museum

As one of the affiliate groups at the Mint Museum, The Romare Bearden Society has as one of its key goals "to support and grow The Mint Museum’s permanent collections of African American contemporary art through educational, outreach and social programs, with a particular focus on the works of African American, Charlotte-born artist Romare Bearden." Other goals are to enhance, to further engage, to honor, and to collaborate. See details at Join a Group.

Columbia, South Carolina

Columbia Museum of Art 

Friends of African American Art and Culture (FAAAC) is a membership affiliate group at Columbia Museum of Art. Its diverse membership is across genders, ethnicities, and ages, sharing their common focus for an appreciation of artistic and cultural contributions of African Americans.

According to the current FAAAC president, Brandolyn Thomas Pinkston, "our board is eager to partner with the Columbia Museum of Art to pursue our goals by providing a multitude of programs, lectures and exhibits."

New York, New York

The Museum of Modern Art  (MoMA)

The mission of The Friends of Education of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is "to foster a greater appreciation of art created by African American artists and to encourage African American participation and membership at MoMA." This group was founded in 1993 and membership is by invitation only.

Baltimore Museum of Art: The Director Shares the African American Art Collection

This tour with Doreen Bolger, Director of the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA), features highlights from BMA's African American art collection which began in 1939. The Baltimore Museum of Art played an early role in exhibiting African American art. The museum's first exhibition, Contemporary Negro Art, with an exclusive African American art focus, was held from February 13 - 19, 1939. There was a 24-page catalogue, with introductory words from Alain Locke, accompanying this exhibition. This 1939 catalogue is a rare find today, existing in approximately sixteen libraries, on an international scale. See if there is a library near you that owns a copy: Libraries. 

The 1939 Contemporary Negro Art exhibition presented paintings, sculpture, prints, and drawings from a large number of artists, including Charles Alston, Henry Wilmer Bannarn, Richmond Barthé, Robert Blackburn, Samuel Joseph Brown, Aaron Douglas, Elton Clay Fax, Sollace J. Glenn, Rex Goreleigh, Palmer C. Hayden, William Hayden, Louise E. Jefferson, Wilmer Jennings, Malvin Gray Johnson, Sargent Johnson, Lois M. Jones, Ronald Joseph, Jacob Lawrence, Norman Lewis, Richard Lindsey, Ronald Moody, Archibald J. Motley, Jr., Robert Neal, Frederick Perry, Florence V. Purviance, Roland St. John, Albert Alexander Smith, James Lesesne Wells, and Hale Woodruff.

Updated 12/08/10: Thanks to Linda Tompkins-Baldwin, Library Director of the Baltimore Museum of Art, I can now share the full 1939 exhibition catalogue of Contemporary Negro Art.