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Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum Celebrates Black History Month with ‘Sacred Spaces’ Exhibition and Opening Reception

For Immediate Release
January 31, 2025

 

Annapolis, MD – The Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture (MCAAHC) and the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum (BDTM) invites the public to two significant events celebrating Black History Month, culture, and preservation. The first event will take place on Monday, February 3, 2025. Commissioner Dr. Walter Gill will host the MCAAHC Public Meeting at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum in Baltimore, highlighting key initiatives and engaging discussions on heritage preservation. The celebration continues on Saturday, February 8, 2025, with the opening of ‘Sacred Spaces’ at the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum in Annapolis. This exhibition blends art with augmented reality to explore the spiritual and cultural contributions of the African American community. Both events offer valuable opportunities for engagement, learning, and honoring Maryland’s rich African American history.

Both events are free and open to the public. Registration required.

PROGRAMS

MCAAHC February 2025 Public Meeting
Monday, February 3, 2025 | 11:00am – 1:00pm
Reginald F. Lewis Museum
830 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
Register: https://bit.ly/MCAAHCPublicMeetingFeb2025

Join us for the Black History Month edition of the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture Public Meeting!

Commissioner Dr. Walter “Wali” Gill, representing Baltimore City, was appointed to the MCAAHC in 2022 by Governor Lawrence J. Hogan. Commissioner Gill is a military veteran, an art and social studies teacher, artist, actor, and author. He brings over twenty years of teaching experience, especially as an urban educator and working with children in foster care. As an artist, he has engaged in painting, collages, crafts, ceramics, produced a film, and designed and copyrighted an “I Love Baltimore” tee shirt.

The meeting will feature:

  • Guest Speaker Bibi Brenda Brown (Adjunct Instructor, Department of History, Geography and Museum Studies, Morgan State University) speaking on the topic of  “African American Me”
  • Poetic Black History Month Messages by Positive Youth Expressions, Inc.
  • Musical Selections by Navay Lee, Baltimore City College

Join us to learn about upcoming initiatives, and to hear from engaging speakers in the heritage and preservation community.

 

‘Sacred Spaces’ Exhibition Opening Reception
Saturday, February 8, 2025 | 12:00pm – 4:00pm
Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum
84 Franklin Street, Annapolis, MD 21401
RSVP:  https://bit.ly/SacredSpacesExhibitionOpening

Join us for the opening reception of ‘Sacred Spaces,’ an art and augmented reality exhibition featuring artwork by artist Jabari Jefferson that explores the spiritual and cultural contributions of the African American community. In celebration of Black History Month, this program will include an artist talk, exhibition tour and more! Join us for this unique opportunity to mingle with artists, curators, and fellow art enthusiasts as we kick off this exciting exhibition.

‘Sacred Spaces’ Exhibition Highlights:

  • Interactive Elements:
    Throughout the exhibition, visitors can engage with Jefferson’s sustainable practices through an Augmented Reality (AR) installation created in collaboration with Baltimore artist Scott Tucker.
  • Community Partnerships:
    Community artmaking workshops and collaborations with the youth of the Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis & BDTM Robinwood Arts Leadership Program will provide unique educational opportunities and strengthen ties to the Maryland community.
  • Public Programming:
    Stay tuned for exhibition-related public programming throughout the year that dives into exhibition themes and annual celebrations through engaging and interactive experiences.

 

Deep Roots, Rising Waters: A Celebration of African Americans in Maryland

Permanent Exhibit

This exhibition provides an overview of African American history in Maryland from 1633 through present day. Learn how African Americans throughout Maryland made lasting changes for all Americans.

Learn more about current exhibitions at https://bdmuseum.maryland.gov/exhibitions/ .

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About Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum

The Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum is the State of Maryland’s official museum of African American heritage and culture. It is operated by the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture. It serves to document, interpret, and promote African American history and culture through exhibitions, programs, and projects in order to improve the understanding and appreciation of America’s rich cultural diversity for all. The museum is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Admission is free. To learn more, visit http://bdmuseum.maryland.gov. Follow us on social media: Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

 

About the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture

The Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture is committed to discovering, documenting, preserving, collecting, and promoting Maryland’s African American heritage. The Commission also provides technical assistance to institutions and groups with similar objectives. Through the accomplishment of this mission, the MCAAHC seeks to educate Maryland citizens and visitors to our state about the significance of the African American experience in Maryland. To learn more, visit https://africanamerican.maryland.gov. Follow us on social media: Facebook and LinkedIn.