The
Black Arts
Council
Benefit

The Black Arts Council is a community of patrons, philanthropists, collectors, and art enthusiasts dedicated to the elevated visibility, access, and appreciation for art and artists of the African diaspora at The Museum of Modern Art. Founded in 1993 by Dr. Akosua Barthwell Evans, Agnes Gund, and David Rockefeller, Jr., the Black Arts Council of The Museum of Modern Art evolved from the visionary Friends of Education—a trailblazing initiative to cultivate a more reflective audience at the Museum, fund acquisitions by Black artists, support educational programming on Black art, and create opportunities for Black artists and arts professionals at MoMA. 

The Black Arts Council continues its founding mission to strengthen the artistic tradition at MoMA by centering Black perspectives on modern and contemporary art that educate, inform, and elevate the canon across New York City and around the world.

Each year, the members-only programming of the Black Arts Council—from gallery talks and curatorial walk-throughs of groundbreaking exhibitions to intimate studio visits with artists, private collection visits, and more—fosters opportunities for Black artists and their work and illustrates this community’s unique ability to convene and champion artists of African descent at The Museum of Modern Art.