Getty Invests $1.55M to Preserve Black-Designed Modern Architecture
Partnership with African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund supports the identification and preservation of Black modernist sites
Ira Aldridge Theater, designed by Hilyard Robinson and Paul R. Williams, is supported by the Conserving Black Modernism grant program. Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts at Howard University, Washington, D.C.
Photo: Julie and Barry Harley of Visual 14
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The Getty Foundation and the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund (Action Fund), of the National Historic Trust for Preservation, announced today a third $1.55 million round of funding in support of Conserving Black Modernism, bringing the total investment to $4.65 million for this program dedicated to preserving historic modernist buildings created by Black architects and designers.
Getty’s latest investment will enable the Action Fund to support preservation planning, training, and storytelling for eight Conserving Black Modernism grantees in 2025, while continuing to diversify our nation’s architectural history.
Conserving Black Modernism is a Getty Foundation-funded initiative within the Action Fund’s National Grant Program, which to date has invested $27 million in 304 Black historic and cultural sites across the country. With more than $150 million in funding, the Action Fund is the largest U.S. resource dedicated to the preservation of African American historic places.
“African American architects and designers have been left out of the modern architecture movement for over a century. Because of this, many pioneers of the Black modernism movement remain unknown, despite the incredible work they have done to fuel innovation, experimentation and push the limits of how people interact with the built environment,” said Brent Leggs, Executive Director of the Action Fund and senior vice president of the National Trust. “With the support of the Getty Foundation, the Action Fund will continue to leverage historic preservation as a force that ensures the contributions of Black people and culture are protected and included in the narrative of our nation’s heritage.”
“By extending Conserving Black Modernism, we get closer to our shared goal of expanding the story of mid-century architecture to include the advances and innovations of African American architects,” said Joan Weinstein, Director of the Getty Foundation. “Important buildings continue to be threatened, and a third year of Conserving Black Modernism will deliver much needed project support and critical training in communities across the country to ensure a robust network of professionals are in place to care for this heritage into the future.”
In addition to directly funding critical preservation projects, the Getty Foundation grant will support convenings of project participants, consultants, and preservationists that foster peer-to-peer learning and professional connections. It will also deepen lasting partnerships between the Action Fund, Getty, Black heritage networks, grantees, and national stakeholders preserving sites of Black-designed modern architecture.
This is the Getty Foundation’s 18th grant to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Previous grants have supported annual conferences, conservation planning at individual sites, and major initiatives and partnerships such as Save America’s Treasures, the Fund for New Orleans, and the Neighborhood Mainstreet Initiative.
Applications for the Conserving Black Modernism program are managed by the Action Fund and will be accepted beginning January 10, 2025. Grantees will be announced in July 2025.