Yesterday the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art celebrated it’s 50th anniversary. The museum was founded on June 3, 1964 by Warren Robbins as a private educational institution. Robbins envisaged the museum to be an outlet of “cross-cultural communication through education in the arts of Africa.”, a mission that still remains.
Yesterday DC Mayor Vincent Gray proclaimed June 3 as the “National Museum of African Art day”.
National campaign from the late Maya Angelou, NMAfa’s honorary chair
The National Museum of African Art is planning a series of public programs dedicated to the celebration of this historic connection. Through collaborative performing arts, a lecture series, cross-cultural exchange, hands-on art workshops, film screenings, mural painting and additional performances, the Museum wishes to tell the story of Oman’s connection with the East African coast.
Visit Africa.si.edu/50years/ to learn more.See Also: