California African American Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1981 |
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| Location | Exposition Park, Los Angeles, California |
| Type | Museum |
| Public transit access |   Expo Park/USC |
The California African American Museum (CAAM) is a special place in Los Angeles, California. It's a museum located in Exposition Park, right next to the California Science Center. CAAM teaches everyone about the rich history and culture of African Americans, especially those in California and the western United States.
It's free to visit CAAM! The museum's main goal is to find, collect, keep safe, and share the history, art, and culture of African Americans. They especially focus on stories from California and the western parts of the United States.
CAAM offers many fun and educational activities. These include talks, workshops, and hands-on projects. They are for students, museum visitors, and people from the community. Some programs happen at the museum, and others happen in different places.
Contents
The Museum's Story
How CAAM Started
The California African American Museum was officially created by the State of California in 1977. It first opened its doors in 1981. At first, it was in a temporary spot inside the California Museum of Science and Industry. This building is now known as the California Science Center.
The museum's first director was a person who loved art, Aurelia Brooks. The very first item CAAM collected was a beautiful bronze statue. It was a bust of civil rights leader Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune. A famous artist named Richmond Barthé made it.
Moving to a Permanent Home
In 1984, CAAM moved to its permanent building. This new home is also in Exposition Park, just south of Downtown Los Angeles. The first big art show in the new building was called The Black Olympians 1904-1984.
This exhibit was put together by CAAM's history expert, Lonnie Bunch. He later became the first director of the famous Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
About the Building
Designing the Museum
The current CAAM building cost about $5 million to build. This money came from both the state and private donations. Two African American architects, Jack Haywood and Vince Proby, designed the museum.
The museum building opened to the public in July 1984. This was during the Los Angeles Olympic Games. The building had a big update and makeover between 2001 and 2003.
What's Inside CAAM
The museum building is very large, about 44,000 square feet. It has three main areas for showing exhibits. There's also a special theater gallery. Outside, there's a 14,000 square foot sculpture court where you can see art.
The museum also has a conference center for events. There's an archive and a research library with many books. Behind the scenes, there are offices and storage areas for art and historical items.
In 2011, there were plans to make the museum even bigger. A design company thought it would cost about $67.3 million to almost triple the museum's size.
What CAAM Collects
CAAM's job is to find, collect, keep safe, and share the history, art, and culture of African Americans. The museum has more than 6,300 pieces of art and historical items. It also has a research library with over 20,000 books and other materials. People can use the library for research.
The museum's permanent collection includes paintings, photographs, and sculptures. These items show the many important things African Americans have done. The collection ranges from old African art to 19th-century landscape paintings. Besides its own collection, CAAM also hosts special exhibits. Some are put together from its own items, and others come from other museums.
Programs and Events
The museum's Education Department offers many different programs and events. These are for the whole Los Angeles community. Their goal is to provide fun and educational experiences. They want to be a helpful resource for different communities. They also want to teach people about the art, history, and culture of African Americans. They show how other cultures connect with African American history and art. CAAM offers more than 80 programs every year.
How CAAM is Managed
The California African American Museum has a budget of about $3.5 million each year. Remember, admission is free for everyone. The state provides about $2.5 million of the budget. A private non-profit foundation also helps. In recent years, this foundation has raised between $650,000 and $1.4 million each year.
The main leader of the museum is the executive director, Cameron Shaw.
The California Natural Resources Agency helps to oversee CAAM. They also oversee the California Science Center.
See also
