### The Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum: A New Chapter in Community Art and History
The Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum in Annapolis has taken an exciting step forward in preserving the rich history of African American culture with a recent $100,000 grant awarded by the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund. This funding will kickstart an innovative artist-in-residency program aimed at building community connections and reviving historical narratives through art.
### Supporting Local Artists and Community Engagement
The grant will facilitate the involvement of three talented artists from the Washington, D.C., Metro area. These artists will collaborate with community members, historians, and the museum’s staff to explore and interpret the significant legacy of the Mount Moriah African Methodist Episcopal Church. By creating artwork inspired by this historical site, the artists will help illuminate the important stories and experiences of Black life in Annapolis.
### A Historic and Cultural Landmark
The museum itself is housed in a former church, built in 1874 by free African Americans, which adds layers of significance to the project. This historic building was nearly lost to redevelopment in the 1970s when Anne Arundel County sought to demolish it for a parking lot. However, community activists rallied to save the structure, preserving it for future generations. In 1984, it was repurposed as Maryland’s official repository for African American history and culture, establishing itself as a vital space for education and reflection.
### Preserving History Through Art
Chanel Compton-Johnson, the executive director of the museum and the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture, emphasized the importance of this grant for preserving Black history in Annapolis. “There was Black life there for 100 years,” she noted. The church served as a hub for education and spirituality, making it a treasure trove of stories that deserve to be rediscovered and shared.
### Empowering the Community
The vision of the residency program goes beyond mere art creation; it seeks to engage the community in meaningful dialogue about their shared history. Brent Leggs, executive director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, highlighted how the grant will bolster the museum’s mission as a space where Black joy, worship, and creative expression can flourish. By supporting artists who honor Maryland’s Black trailblazers, the program aims to foster a sense of pride and connection to the past.
### Fostering Creative Collaborations
Compton-Johnson shared that the artist-in-residency program is part of a broader 2025-2030 strategic plan. This plan includes seven goals focused on dynamic historical storytelling, which underscores the importance of collaborations with artists to amplify historical narratives. Last year, the museum commissioned Washington-based artist Jabari Jefferson to interpret the church’s history through his artwork, an experience Compton-Johnson described as both “amazing” and “challenging.”
### Looking Ahead
The museum plans to select the three artists for the residency later this year, inviting them to bring their unique perspectives and talents to the project. Compton-Johnson expressed her hopes for future collaborations, looking forward to how these artists will contribute to the ongoing dialogue about the Black experience in Annapolis.
“This is an emotional time,” she reflected. “It’s happy emotions. It’s like, ‘Oh my gosh, look what we accomplished.’” The approval from the Action Fund serves as an affirmation of the museum’s commitment to excellence in preserving and celebrating African American history and culture.
