TITLE
Recommendation to request City Manager to work with community stakeholders to identify potential sites in Long Beach for an African American Cultural Center that can serve as a hub for cultural and art exhibits.
DISCUSSION
Long Beach is a diverse and dynamic city, and it is widely recognized for celebrating the diversity of our population, and for embracing the arts. The City is home to the Museum of Latin American Art, the Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum, the Homeland Cultural Center and the Long Beach Japanese Cultural Center, among many local cultural institutions.
With more than 60,000 African Americans, or approximately 13% of the population, Long Beach is also home to Black trailblazers and pioneers in many fields and pursuits. The City also has residents that have several noteworthy collections of African American culture and art, such as the "Forgotten Images" exhibit, which consists of more than 20,000 authenticated items reflecting more than 200 years of the African American experience. However, these collections do not have a permanent location to educate the community and to help celebrate the culture.
In the ongoing tradition in Long Beach of celebrating the diverse cultures and helping to tell their stories, we request the City Manager to work with community stakeholders to identify potential locations in the City to serve as a permanent home to celebrate African American art and culture.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
[Timing Considerations]
FISCAL IMPACT
There is not a significant fiscal impact with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
[Enter Body Here]
Respectfully Submitted,
COUNCILMAN AL AUSTIN,
EIGHTH DISTRICT
COUNCILMAN DEE ANDREWS,
SIXTH DISTRICT
VICE MAYOR REX RICHARDSON,
NINTH DISTRICT