...Being Built in Harlem

Harlem, the cultural capital of Black America, will soon be the home of a new state-of-the-art cinema museum.

In the Beginnging...

In June 2005, the NYS Senate and Assembly voted unanimously on bills which authorizes the State of New York to provide finances for the acquisition, construction, development and equipping of facilities in Harlem as the permanent location of the Museum of African American Cinema (MOAAC). Governor Pataki signed the legislation into law on July 19, 2005.

The museum legislation was sponsored by

The museum will curate and commemorate the historical and cultural achievements of African American entertainers, in motion pictures, on stage and television," states Gregory Javan Mills, MA, the museum's founder and chairman. MOAAC has a Provisional Charter from the NYS Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York, is approved as a charity by the NYS Attorney General's Office and is a registered 501(c) (3) tax exemption organization with  NYS and the Internal Revenue Service.

The Project Scope...
"We are currently identifying potential locations in Harlem for this project", Mills relates, " and seeking an additional $5 million in funding from government, corporations, foundations, and philanthropists to build the museum."  With a projective total cost of $35 million, the museum staff is developing a business plan for submission to the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone and other sources.

The Vision...
A centerpiece of the museum will be a permanent moving image and paper exhibition depicting the history of African-Americans in cinema. These exhibitions would rest on a vast archival collection of 35mm and 16mm films; artifacts, photographs, posters and ephemera related to this history and would also include audio-visual and high technology interactive elements.

This museum is the very first in New York State which will archive, preserve and showcase the cinematic history of African Americans, states Senator Paterson. According to Assemblyman Wright, the museum will enhance and build upon the cultural industry of Harlem and afford all New Yorkers and visitors the opportunity to learn about a most important element of American film history. And Harlem Congressman Charles B. Rangel relates that "the museum will be a great asset to the Harlem community in that it will focus on educating our community about the achievements of African American actors and entertainers."

Plans include a 600-seat auditorium, four small 60-seat screening rooms, research library, exhibition space, meeting and conference room space, a media production facility for training children and youth, and a museum shop and cafe.

For more information contact Gregory Mills at gmills@moaac.org or call (212) 749-5298.