Bloomington, IN - University Collections at McCalla will celebrate the opening of its new exhibition, Lasting Legacies: Honoring the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center and African American Arts Institute, on Friday, September 6 from 4:00 pm-6:00 pm. Founded in 1969 and 1974 respectively, the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center (NMBCC) and African American Arts Institute (AAAI) have become invaluable sources of community for Black students, staff, and faculty at Indiana University. In celebration of 50-plus years of community, scholarship, artistic excellence, and service, this exhibition shares the history of each organization and highlights the legacy and efforts of Herman Hudson and other supportive IU faculty, staff, alumni, and community members over the last five decades.
Lasting Legacies showcases unique artifacts that tell a story of determination and advocacy for Black students growing out of the Civil Rights Movement. Newspaper clippings reveal the growing racial tension in Bloomington in the 1960s, and written appeals showcase the actions of students, faculty, and staff as they advocated for change – through the establishment of a Black Studies program, increased Black faculty hires, and the creation of a faculty advocate for Black students within the administration. The exhibit’s images and objects document the evolution of IU’s first Black Culture Center into today’s NMBCC and highlight AAAI ensembles that celebrate Black music and dance and their influence on American culture.
The exhibit is curated in close coordination with Dr. Gloria Howell, Director of the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, Dr. Raymond Wise, Director of the African American Arts Institute, and Dr. Charles Sykes, Former Director and Historian of the African American Arts Institute.
The mission of University Collections at McCalla is to provide accessible exhibition and educational experiences and create opportunities for students, faculty, and the community to engage with collections, IU-generated research, and creative projects in meaningful and innovative ways.
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