Our Brand Pillars
The Black Artists Archive (BAA) is dedicated to safeguarding the histories, artworks, and cultural contributions of Black artists and communities whose legacies have too often been overlooked, under-documented, or left at risk of loss. Through our Archive Initiatives, we identify, preserve, and activate endangered collections, cultural landmarks, and creative practices that form the backbone of DetroitтАЩsтАФand AmericaтАЩsтАФBlack cultural history.
Our approach goes beyond preservation. Each initiative is designed to return these histories to the people and places from which they came, ensuring accessibility through exhibitions, digitization, and community-centered programming. Whether rooted in sound, image, or mural, these archives are living legacies that continue to inform and inspire future generations.
Inaugural Archive Initiative
Spearheaded by┬аDavid Ellis, Vinyl Legacies, BAA’s inaugural archival initiative, focuses on the comprehensive cataloging, digitization, and preservation of┬аThe Black Canon’s┬аextensive collection of over 12,000 vinyl records showcasing Black music.
Photography from the Black CanonтАЛ
Candid Culture is a joint archival project between Dr. Kelli Morgan and Alima Wheeler-Trapp (The Black Canon, TBC) that will culminate with a virtual exhibition. Together we will delve into TBC’s expansive archive of candid photography, highlighting the vibrancy of Black performance, community activism, and artistic exhibitions in Detroit during the pinnacle of the Civil Rights Era.
Preservation Discussions
A collaborative discussion about preserving the 1979 mural created by the National Conference of Artists, Michigan Chapter, a landmark in DetroitтАЩs Black Arts Movement and a testament to the power of community vision.
Preserving it honors the history of the neighborhood, the artists who created it, and the generations who will inherit its story.
Forthcoming
Spearheaded by Irma Maribel Guzm├бn, this project preserves Dr. Lucile Cruz Arellano GajecтАЩs collection of 1,500+ artifacts, safeguarding DetroitтАЩs Mexican and Indigenous cultural heritage through digitization, preservation, and community-centered exhibitions.
Set to launch in 2027, DUO is a three-month residency that will support artist/curator pairs exploring experimental and contemporary practices rooted in Black cultural frameworks while drawing from the Archive and the BCI.
