Our museum is housed in the historic Abbotsford Mansion built circa. l870. It is set on a magnificent and spacious green amid ancient Oak and Corkwood trees. Eternal Presence by John Wilson, a monumental bronze head rises on a nearby knoll adjacent to an outcropping of Puddingstone boulders, the rocks for which Roxbury is named. Abbotsford, originally named Oak Bend, is the best example of Victorian High Gothic domestic architecture in Boston and is on the National Historic Register.
The museum is dedicated to fostering the visual arts heritage of black people worldwide, and features both a changing schedule of exhibitions and a permanent display of Nubian art. "Aspelta, a Nubian King's Burial Chamber" presents nearly fifty 2600 year old objects from the 25th or Nubian Dynasty, and is anchored by a full scale accurate recreation of the third room of King Aspelta's burial suite.
Changing exhibitions may be drawn from historical or contemporary art from Africa, the Caribbean, Latin and South America as well as from within the United States. Altogether, the museum offers a rich counterpoint of the contemporary and the historical, the local and the national, and indeed, the international as well.
Exhibitions are complemented by frequent public discussions and programs drawn from the performing arts.
The Museum is a division of the National Center of Afro-American Artists that was founded by Elma Lewis in l968. It has presented exhibitions since l970.
We hold art and artifacts from Africa, the Caribbean, Latin and South American, as well as the United States. Collections include fine arts, textiles, photography, and crafts.
We offer tours, workshops, lectures and performing arts programs. Tours and workshops may be selected for a roster of programs always available, and fees are charged according to the selected activity. Lectures and other public programs are generally free to the public.
Access: Staff Only
Appointment required: True
Tennessee museums are full of hope. But how are they turning hope into reality
With the Semiquincentennial quickly approaching in 2026, the state's museum community if approaching a turning point, and is now a great time to take stock and develop a vision for the future
The Tennessee Association of Museums' 64th Annual Conference in Knoxville will challenge the state's museums to think ahead and share their hopes, the best practices and strategies for turning those hoes into realities, and the rewards that come from aspirational thinking
The 2025 TAM Annual Conference will take place at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Knoxville, TN.
For more information, please call 615-495-3354 or email hawkins@aaslh.org.
2025 Conference Theme: Looking Back to the Future For the past several years, many museums have been deeply involved in planning programs and events to observe the 250th birthday of the United States of America. While this is certainly an occasion to celebrate, this anniversary also forces us as a society to reckon with ongoing inequities and challenges within the US that go back to its inception. As museums ask their audiences to look to the past to understand the present and shape a better future, perhaps now is a good moment in time for Virginia’s museum community to take pause and look back at its own history. We are excited to see you in Blacksburg in March 2025 as we take a moment in our hectic schedules to take pause and visit our diverse pasts. Let’s uncover and share our histories to build a more resilient Virginia museum community.
"Innovation: Museums and Reaching our Potential
The heart of innovation is transformation – shaking up our established way of doing things by introducing new methods, new ideas, and new approaches to both obstacles and opportunities
Museums across Ohio are not just adapting, but innovating to reach their full potential and better serve their communities. No matter their role, museum professionals are introducing forward-thinking perspectives and initiating creative solutions to launch the field into a future where museums can remain trusted and relevant community cornerstones
How can your museum stay true to mission and serve your community in new and meaningful ways? How can we as museum professionals meet the challenges of the future with reinvigorated enthusiasm
Join us in Athens, March 29-31 as we explore these topics and more at the 2025 Ohio Museums Association’s Annual Conference: Innovation: Museums and Reaching our Potential.
For more information, please email oma@ohiohistory.org.
Museums Unwalled: Expanding Horizon
This theme highlights the importance of museums as dynamic entities that engage with communities, foster education, drive cultural change and often go beyond the building itself. By focusing on areas such as community engagement, digital and virtual presence, interdisciplinary collaborations, sustainability, accessibility, and cultural diversity, we aim to provide a comprehensive and enriching experience for all attendees
The primary objective is to provide a platform for museum professionals and others working in the industry to share ideas, best practices, resources and innovative approaches that demonstrate how museums can reach audiences in and beyond our physical spaces. We aim to inspire attendees to think broadly about the potential of their institutions and to foster a spirit of innovation and community engagement.
By facilitating discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities, the conference will empower current and future museum professionals and to expand their impact, embrace new challenges, and create meaningful connections with their audiences and communities.
"From the Ground Up: Cultivating Essential Skills in Museums
This year, the AMA conference theme is "From the Ground Up: Cultivating Essential Skills in Museums" As museum professionals we learn and use a wide variety of tools and skills every day
The Arkansas Museums Association is planning its 2025 Annual Conference, which will be hosted by Historic Washington State Park on March 31-April 3, 2025.
The goal of the conference is to support and foster the museum community through a mix of speakers as well as workshops, practical and informative presentations, in-depth discussions, and examples of projects and initiatives that are relevant to museums in Arkansas. Arkansas Museum Association members take ownership in the conference experience as presenters, speakers, panelists, facilitators, and workshop leaders.
For more information, please email arkansasmuseums@gmail.com.