The City of Detroit announces a significant contribution of nearly $2 million from its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to facilitate major renovations at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. The announcement was made by Mayor Mike Duggan, underlining the city’s commitment to investing in its rich cultural heritage.
Mayor Mike Duggan expressed his enthusiasm about the project, saying, “The Charles Wright Museum of African American History is a gem not only in Detroit, but nationally. We’re thrilled to help the museum move forward with a major facility improvement to help it remain competitive, thanks to President Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act.”
Founded in 1965, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History stands as a 125,000-square-foot cultural treasure in the heart of Midtown Detroit’s Cultural Center. The museum is committed to opening minds and changing lives through the exploration and celebration of African American History and Culture. Its 22,000 square foot immersive core exhibit stands as one of the largest single exhibitions surveying the history of African Americans. The Museum houses over 35,000 artifacts and archival materials and offers more than 300 public programs and events annually.
In line with its tradition of celebrating excellence, the Wright is preparing for its annual gala honoring Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth Carter in October. Plans are also underway for celebrating the museum’s momentous 60th anniversary in 2025.
The allocated $1.8 million from the City ARPA funds will be utilized for a comprehensive $5 million redesign of the museum’s General Motors Theater. The enhanced theater will boast state-of-the-art digital technology, providing an enriched experience for diverse performances including theater, spoken word, film, and dance. The renovated space will feature a newly designed stage, ensuring a closer, more intimate audience experience.
This project, slated for completion in early Spring of 2024, is a part of the city’s comprehensive strategy to revitalize its cultural and historical landmarks. Spearheading the initiative was Councilmember Scott Benson, also a member of the museum’s Board of Trustees. He affirmed the city’s dedicated efforts stating, “I truly appreciate the Mayor and administration for going above and beyond by allocating these additional funds to the Charles H. Wright Museum, a cultural institution of great importance to the City and country.”
Neil A. Barclay, the President & CEO of the museum, also emphasized the critical support from the city for maintaining and enhancing the iconic facility, which attracts thousands of visitors annually. He said, “Support from the city is truly critical in helping us ensure that we can maintain capital improvements while also upgrading our technology on behalf of the institution and community we serve.”
Detroit’s ARPA allocation for cultural enhancements doesn’t end here. Other initiatives include the ACE Arts Alley Initiative, a $5.6 million project aimed at redeveloping neighborhood alleys into unique community spaces, and the Ossian Sweet Complex, receiving $1 million for the creation of a vibrant outdoor area for community gatherings and cultural programming.
Emphasizing Detroit’s historical leadership in arts and culture, Rochelle Riley, Director of Arts and Culture, Office of Arts, Culture and Entrepreneurship, said, “Detroit is – and always has been – a leader in so many ways. It is fitting that the city with the nation’s best art museum and the nation’s best riverfront also continue to expand one of the nation’s best history museums.”
As of the week of September 25, 2023, Detroit’s ARPA dashboard shows a total appropriation of $826,675,290, with $143,457,881 already spent on various citywide initiatives.
More information about ARPA programs and spending can be accessed at www.detroitmi.gov/ARPA.