The North Carolina Arts Council Celebrates Black History Month

Author: North Carolina Arts Council

Celebrate Black History Month with the North Carolina Arts Council as we recognize the achievements and influence of Black cultural workers and creatives throughout our state. More than a half-century ago, Carter G. Woodson initiated the first celebration of Negro History Week which led to Black History Month being formally recognized in 1976. Since then, the month of February serves to both reaffirm and uphold the historical importance of Black Americans.

This month we will:

#ShareTheMic with the Harvey B. Gantt Center and the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission
Amplify the work of Black musicians by sharing music-related facts that are specific to North Carolina's Black History on Twitter and Instagram
Highlight the achievements of emerging and well-established Black artists in N.C.
Share resources, including Come Hear North Carolina's newly curated Spotify playlist of Black North Carolinian musicians

Harvey B. Gantt Center

Since its establishment in 1974, the dream of the first visionaries (Mary Harper and Bertha Maxwell) has elevated to unforeseen levels. Located in the heart of Uptown Charlotte, October 2009 marked the opening of the Afro-American Cultural Center as the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture. The Gantt Center presents, preserves and celebrates excellence in the art, history, and culture of African-Americans and people of African descent.They ignite engagement and conversations that inspire, empower, and enlighten all.

Follow the Harvey B. Gantt Center:

Instagram @hbganttcenter
Twitter @HBGanttCenter
Facebook @hbganttcenter

North Carolina African American Heritage Commission

The North Carolina General Assembly created the African American Heritage Commission (AAHC) in 2008 to “assist the Secretary of Cultural Resources in the preservation, interpretation, and promotion of African American history, arts, and culture.” With this legislation the AAHC has identified African American heritage practitioners, such as curators, docents, and museum directors, as priority service populations. The AAHC was recognized as a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources in 2017, after being housed in the Office of Archives and History and the North Carolina Arts Council. The commission works across the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to achieve the mission of preserving, protecting, and promoting North Carolina’s African American history, art, and culture, for all people.

Looking for ways to celebrate Black History Month, AAHC has got you covered! Head over to their website to learn more about their Black History Month Read-In and Black History Month events happening across the state.

Follow the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission: