Museum of the African Diaspora facts for kids

Museum of the African Diaspora members stand outside the museum, awaiting a tour.

The Museum of the African Diaspora (often called MoAD) is a cool art museum in San Francisco, California. It's special because it shows art and artists only from the African diaspora. This means it focuses on people of African descent who live all over the world. MoAD is one of the few museums like this in the United States. You can find it at 685 Mission St. in the Yerba Buena Arts District. It takes up the first three floors of the St. Regis Museum Tower. MoAD is a non-profit organization and is also connected with the famous Smithsonian museums.

Before 2014, MoAD taught visitors about the history, culture, and art of the African diaspora through different exhibits. After a big update in 2014, the museum changed its focus to show only fine arts exhibitions. MoAD doesn't have its own permanent collection of art. Instead, it works directly with artists and curators to create new and exciting shows.

What MoAD Does

MoAD's main goal is to "celebrate Black cultures, start important conversations, and help people learn through the worldwide story of the African Diaspora." This means they want to share the rich history and amazing art of people of African descent from all over the globe.

MoAD's Story

MoAD was created as part of a special project in San Francisco. In 1999, the city decided that the Yerba Buena Gardens area needed a cultural space dedicated to African American heritage. San Francisco's Mayor, Willie L. Brown, put together a team to figure out what kind of cultural center it should be.

The idea for the museum grew from this work, starting in 2002. The new museum was named the Museum of the African Diaspora to show its wider focus on people of African descent everywhere. It officially became a non-profit organization. The museum space was designed by the Freelon Group inside the St. Regis Museum Tower. This tall building also has luxury apartments and a fancy hotel. MoAD first opened its doors in 2005.

Linda Harrison became the executive director of MoAD in November 2013. In June 2014, the museum closed for six months for renovations. These updates made more space for art and gave the museum a fresh new look. By October 2014, MoAD became an official Smithsonian Affiliate, which is a big deal! Linda Harrison left MoAD in 2018.

Monetta White, who has been involved with MoAD since it opened in 2005, was chosen as the executive director in December 2019.

Early Focus of MoAD

Before 2014, MoAD also explored the very first "African diaspora." This refers to the original movement of early humans, Homo sapiens, from Africa to all other parts of the world. The museum used to ask visitors, "When did you first realize you are African?" This idea is based on the scientific understanding that all humans share a common origin in Africa.

Helping New Artists

The Emerging Artists Program at MoAD helps new and talented artists. This program started when the museum celebrated its 10th anniversary. It gets support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

• Tim Roseborough and Cheryl Derricotte, 2015–2016
• Nyame Brown, Helina Metaferia, Lili Bernard, and Angie Keller, 2016–2017

Past Art Shows

MoAD has hosted many interesting art exhibitions over the years. Here are some of them:

See also

• List of museums focused on African Americans