The Beach Institute African-American Cultural Center

One of BAIA Foundation’s 2022 initiatives is instituting marketing assistance for African American Museums and Cultural Centers. 

“The Beach Institute is Savannah’s first school built after Emancipation specifically for African Americans. As a cultural center, the Beach Institute collects, interprets, preserves and presents African American history and culture through exhibits and artistic and educational programs.”

The Beach Institute is small, but the building holds so much history. Founded in 1867 by the Freedman’s Bureau, like many schools in the South during the Reconstruction Era, it was turned over to the local Board of Education in 1875 where it became a free public school for Black children.

The Reconstruction Era Classroom is still set up like a classroom including replicas of old desks and pews. It’s like you’re walking back in time when you walk into that room. The Beach Institute closed in 1919 when enrollment dropped due to other schools opening in the area. It now serves as an African-American Cultural Center, offering programs and exhibits which feature work by Black artists. A collection of wood carvings by Ulysses Davis, a barber and self-taught sculptor, is one of the Institute’s highlighted exhibits. The Institute also plans to exhibit more of Davis’s work, particularly his religious pieces, for the month of April.

The Rudolph Valentino Bostic exhibit is another. Also a self-taught artist from Savannah, Bostic’s paintings integrate Biblical references as well as a few from pop culture. His bold lines often made from a permanent marker along with vivid colors and metallic paints give you the feeling of being on a church pew on Sunday morning lost in a daze at the stained glassed windows. In honor of the Easter holiday, the Institute is hosting an exhibition of sacred folk art called The Greatest Story Ever Told through April 30.

Photo Credit: The Laural of Asheville

Until March 20, 2022, there’s a doll exhibit from the private collection of Aiysha Sinclair, featuring more than 100 Black dolls from as early as the 1790s up until today. All of them are handmade and come from all over the world including the U.S., Brazil, West Africa, the Far East, and Europe. 

Then there’s the Quilting Exhibit in the sanctuary-feeling Grand Hall. Featuring quilts from Black artists local and far, many of the quilts are part of the Institute’s permanent exhibit. This particular room tells the story of the Institute. It brings it all full circle, reminding you of the importance of community, keeping the stories alive, and weaving together our personal histories for a greater narrative. 

The gift shop features prints by Black artists, apparel, books based on local history and culture, locally made loose tea, and more. And the courtyard is breathtaking. For the plant lovers, there are various herbs and flowers that are labeled and possibly available for picking (if you ask). Several benches to relax and take it all in. And events like yoga held every Saturday morning (when the weather is nice) to recenter and refuel. Weddings and photo shoots are also often held in the courtyard. So if you feel yourself inclined to take a selfie or two, you’re not alone.

THE BLACK ART IN AMERICA (BAIA) FOUNDATION is a 501c3 organization that applies what we’ve learned over our 12 years as a multifaceted arts company to facilitate the growth of artists while cultivating the relationships and opportunities that bring Black artists and communities together. 

We invite you to become a monthly supporter of the BAIA Foundation. Starting at just $3 a month, YOU become a stakeholder and begin to help us transform lives through art. We are growing the BAIA team and will use your contributions to hire more team members for the purpose of creating more educational and marketing resources for schools and universities about african american artists both past and present. Such art initiatives and educational programming like Blacklite with Steve Prince, Relating to Art with Dr. Kelli Morgan, and BAIA BITS would not be possible without the ongoing support of our Patreon members. Please consider becoming a monthly Patreon member today!

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