Expanding Access to Hidden Histories

The Getty Foundation has announced a significant expansion of its Black Visual Arts Archives program—investing $2.6 million to deepen public access to archives associated with Black artistic and cultural heritage across the United States. First launched as a pilot in 2022 with just over $1 million in grants, the initiative now enters a broader phase, reflecting its growing importance in reframing American art history.

A Nationwide Circle of Institutional Support

This new round of grants is directed toward 12 institutions—including the Amistad Research Center in New Orleans, Clark Atlanta University, Chicago Public Library, Emory University, Fisk University, Lincoln University, Cal State LA, and Visual AIDS in New York, among others. Notably, $275,000 is allocated to process the archives of significant artists like Senga Nengudi, and $140,000 supports Clark Atlanta’s efforts to formalise and preserve its collection, home to seminal works by Elizabeth Catlett and Charles White.

Archives as Living Cultural Spaces

Beyond preservation, the grants aim to animate archives as living sites of engagement—not static collections tucked away in vaults. Recipients are encouraged to digitise materials, develop public exhibitions, educational programming, and digital projects like VR experiences, zines, or community activations. For example:

• The Schomburg Center created a vibrant digital zine and publishing its first “finding aid” to broaden access to archival materials.

• Temple University processed around 30,000 negatives and created a VR game to explore the history of Philadelphia’s Black communities.

Rewriting American Art History

Miguel de Baca, Getty Foundation Senior Programme Officer, underscores the initiative’s urgency: “We need a fuller understanding of the influence of Black artists, architects, and cultural institutions to tell a more complete history of American art and culture,” adding that this program “delivers critical support” to make those stories accessible to both researchers and the general public.

Through this substantial investment, the Getty Foundation isn't merely preserving the past—it is reclaiming narrative space and empowering institutions to bring Black artistic heritage forward. By transforming archives into active cultural forces, this initiative ensures that once-hidden stories of creativity, resilience, and community become part of the shared national memory.