Research Catalog

Title

Black Emergency Cultural Coalition records, 1971-1984.

Author

Black Emergency Cultural Coalition.

Supplementary Content

Finding Aid

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Andrews, Benny, 1930-2006.
• Joseph, Cliff, 1922-

Description

0.6 linear ft. (2.5 archival boxes)

Summary

The Black Emergency Cultural Coalition records, 1971-1984, have been divided into three series: Administrative documents, BECC arts programs and General files.The collection includes administrative documents, records detailing their arts programs, and general materials related to the members, sponsored programs and other business. Administrative documents contain financial records including proposals which give details about the organization, its accomplishments and programs.

Subject

• Andrews, Benny, 1930-2006
• Joseph, Cliff, 1922-2020
• Chisolm, Michael
• Black Emergency Cultural Coalition
• Sinbad School of Art (Brookly, N.Y.)
• Artisan Alliance (Green Haven Correctional Facility: Stormville, N.Y.)
• Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, N.Y.) > Exhibitions
• Whitney Museum of American Art > Exhibitions
• African American artists > 20th century
• Black Arts movement
• African American art > New York (State) > New York > Exhibitions
• Civil rights movements in art > United States
• Xangô (Cult) > Exhibitions
• Prisoners as artists > New York (State) > New York

Note

• Photographs transferred to Photographs and Prints Division.

Source (note)

• Michael Chisolm

Biography (note)

• Black Emergency Cultural Coalition Inc. (BECC) was organized in January 1969 by a group of African American artists in response to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's 2Harlem on My Mind3 exhibit, which omitted the contributions of African American painters and sculptors to the Harlem community. Members of this initial group that protested against the exhibit included several prominent African American artists, including Benny Andrews and Clifford R. Joseph, cofounders of the BECC. The primary goal of the group was to agitate for change in the major art museums in New York City for greater representation of African American artists and their work in these museums, and that an African American curatorial presence would be established.

Indexes/Finding Aids (note)

• Preliminary collection guide available.

Call Number

Sc MG 399

OCLC

NYPG05-A10167

Author

Black Emergency Cultural Coalition.

Title

Black Emergency Cultural Coalition records, 1971-1984.

Biography

Black Emergency Cultural Coalition Inc. (BECC) was organized in January 1969 by a group of African American artists in response to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's 2Harlem on My Mind3 exhibit, which omitted the contributions of African American painters and sculptors to the Harlem community. Members of this initial group that protested against the exhibit included several prominent African American artists, including Benny Andrews and Clifford R. Joseph, cofounders of the BECC. The primary goal of the group was to agitate for change in the major art museums in New York City for greater representation of African American artists and their work in these museums, and that an African American curatorial presence would be established.

In 1971 the work of the coalition grew to include the creation of an Arts Exchange program in correctional facilities. This program arose in response to major riots at the Attica correctional facility in New York. The BECC was incorporated in 1972 as a non-profit organization. The initial directors of this newly incorporated organization were Clifford R. Joseph, Benny Andrews, Camille Billops, Vivian Browne and Russell Thompson. The BECC sponsored arts programs in juvenile detention centers and mental health facilities throughout the United States.

BECC published a newsletter with contributing articles from its members chronicling their arts program activities, and Benny Andrews, co-chairman of the Coalition published several articles about the BECC's experiences in newspapers and art journals across the country.

Indexes

Preliminary collection guide available.

Connect to:

Finding Aid

Added Author

Andrews, Benny, 1930-2006.

Joseph, Cliff, 1922-

Research Call Number

Sc MG 399