Museum of the African Diaspora celebrated its 10th anniversary with a gala and benefit event at the museum and San Francisco’s St. Regis Hotel on October 10, 2015. Honorees included Jewelle Taylor Gibbs, James Lowell Gibbs, Peggy Woodford Forbes and Harry Bremond for their faithful support of MoAD during its first ten years. Also honored, Guyanese-born CCH Pounder, a founding member of Artists for a New South Africa, and contemporary artist Mickalene Thomas. The evening featured performances from Zeke Nealy and Papa Konbit, Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue.
The theme, Finding the I in Diaspora, connected the historical and the contemporary dispersion of the people and its impact in the arts, culture and community. “This year’s gala represented a milestone for MoAD as we celebrated our mission to build a deeper understanding of the African Diaspora,” said Linda Harrison, MoAD executive director. “The number and quality of art exhibitions, programs and events we cultivated over the last 10 years highlight the wonder and excitement of how our personal histories are connected.” Over $600,000 was raised for MoAD, an arts and cultural institution dedicated to preserving the stories of our common African heritage and sharing those stories with audiences from around the world. As a Smithsonian Institution affiliate, MoAD has access to the Smithsonian Institution’s 136 million artifact collection for research, exhibits and programming.
Scenes from the MoAD 10th Anniversary Gala
Photos by Drew Altizer Photography
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