Brooklyn, NY

 

40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks
DESCRIPTION: Spike Lee founded 40 Acres & Mule based in his childhood neighborhood, the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn in 1986, after gaining box office success and critical acclaim from producing, writing, actin, and directing his first feature film She’s Gotta Have It; his company gave a whole generation of young people access to the film industry that they did not have before and either launched or accelerated the careers of numerous young actors and production staff including Laurence Fishburne, Denzel Washington, Danny Aiello, Mekhi Phifer, John Turturro and Wesley Snipes; Spike Lee expanded the organization mission to seminars where special guests came to speak about the film industry, including Martin Scorsese, John Singleton, Robert De Niro, and the Hughes Brothers; the most endearing aspects of 40 Acres & A Mule are its community engagement activities and his documentaries such as, Four Little Girls, When the Levees Broke and If God is Willing and Da Creek Don't Rise; don't forget to buy a T-shirt and/or DVD while here

DAYS & HOURS: by appt

ADDRESS: 75 South ElliottPlace  MAP
PHONE: 718-221-2911

TRANSIT: near 2, 3, 4 & 5 subway lines

WEBSITE: http://www.40acres.com

Medgar Evers College, City University of New York
DESCRIPTION: Founded in 1969 this state-supported college was named in honor of Medgar Evers, the tragically slain NAACP civil rights leader in Mississippi; serves a predominantly African American student body

DAYS & HOURS: daily

ADDRESS: 1650 Bedford Ave  MAP

TRANSIT: near 2, 3, 4 & 5 subway lines

PHONE: 718-270-6024

WEBSITE: http://medgarevers.edu-college.com

 

James E. Davis Arts Building
DESCRIPTION: Part of the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, this 30,000-square foot building was renovated into office space for tenants like local minority and women owned businesses; it is the role model for the Atlantic Yards project in including local businesses in the Black community; it is named in honor of James E. Davis a bizarrely murdered Brooklyn Council Member who was shot by Othniel Askew who had an unsuccessful bid to run against Davis for reelection to council; Askew was brought into City Hall by Davis to refute any charges of conspiracy against him; after clearing metal detectors and police presence he shot and killed Davis and was in turn shot and killed

DAYS & HOURS: daily

ADDRESS: 1135 Saint Johns Place  MAP
PHONE: 718-221-2911

TRANSIT: near 2, 3, 4 & 5 subway lines

WEBSITE: weblink

651 Arts Center
DESCRIPTION: A forum for expression of arts and cultural programming grounded in the African Diaspora; programs that integrate art disciplines and humanities and connect their activities with the community

DAYS & HOURS: daily

ADDRESS: 651 Fulton Street  MAP

TRANSIT: near G, 2, 3, 4 & 5 subway lines

PHONE: 718-636-4181

WEBSITE: http://www.651arts.org

Billy Holiday Theater
DESCRIPTION: produces plays written by promising, undiscovered writers; art gallery features rotating exhibits by up and coming artists

BOX OFFICE: daily

ADDRESS: 1360 Fulton Street  MAP

TRANSIT: near A & C subway lines and Nostrand Ave Station commuter trains

PHONE: 718-636-6937

WEBSITE: http://www.thebillieholiday.org

 

Simmons African Arts Museum
DESCRIPTION: Promotes understanding of the cultural arts by the African Diaspora via art exhibitions, educational projects, and travel tours

DAYS & HOURS: Wed & Sun 1p-6p, Sat 12a-6p

ADDRESS: 1063 Fulton Street  MAP

TRANSIT: near C & S subway lines

PHONE: 718-230-0933

WEBSITE: none

 

Mark Morris Dance Center
DESCRIPTION: Home to the integrated  Mark Morris Dance Group and School of Dance and Choreography

DAYS & HOURS: event dependent
ADDRESS: 3 Lafayette Avenue  MAP

TRANSIT: near 2, 3, 4 & 5 subway lines
PHONE: 718-624-8400
WEBSITE: http://markmorrisdancegroup.org

Paul Robeson Theater
DESCRIPTION: Opened in 1979, the quality and diversity of cultural events offered here are unequaled in community theater; an additional 3,000 square feet on the lower level helps make this a premier place to experience a variety of progressive theater productions from small to large

BOX OFFICE: tickets $20, group rates available

ADDRESS: 54 Greene Ave  MAP

TRANSIT: near C subway line

PHONE: 718-783-9794

WEBSITE: none

Jackie Robinson & Pee Wee Reese Monument
DESCRIPTION: Pee Wee Reese was the first white teammate to openly befriend and hug Jackie Robinson when he broke the color barrier in major league baseball; Robinson and Reese went on to lead Brooklyn to its first World Series victory 50 years ago; William Behrends sculptor

ADDRESS: 1904 Surf Ave at Coney Island Stadium  MAP

TRANSIT: near D, F, N & Q subway lines

WEBSITE: http://www.brooklyncyclones.com

Queens, NY

Langston Hughes Community Library & Cultural Center
DESCRIPTION: Director Sekou Molefi Baako and staff lead poetry and various other art programs at Black Heritage Reference Center of Queens County

DAYS & HOURS: Mon & Fri 10a-6p, Tue 1p-6p, Wed & Thu 1p-8p, Sat 10a-5p

ADDRESS: 102-09 Northern Blvd  MAP

TRANSIT: near 7 subway line

PHONE: 718-651-1100

WEBSITE: http://www.queens.lib.ny.us/branches

Afrikan Poetry Theatre
DESCRIPTION: Poetry workshops during the week, performances on Fri-Sun nights; Afrocentric films on Friday nights; jazz and gospel concerts, lectures and art exhibits on Sundays

DAYS & HOURS: varies by performance

ADDRESS: 176-03 Jamaica Ave  MAP

TRANSIT: near F subway line

PHONE: 718-523-3312

WEBSITE: http://www.afrikapoetrytheatre.com

Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning
DESCRIPTION: Housed in a landmark neo-Italian Renaissance building, the center, celebrating over 30 years of service, presents professional theater, Jazz, and popular multi-cultural music performances; 161-04 Jamaica Ave in Jamaica

DAYS & HOURS: daily 10a-7p

ADDRESS: 161-04 Jamaica Ave  MAP

TRANSIT: near E, J & Z subway lines

PHONE: 718-658-7400

WEBSITE: http://www.jcal.org

Museum for African Art
DESCRIPTION: Temporarily relocated from Manhattan to Long Island City, this museum features a number of touring, eye-catching exhibits, include Where Gods and Mortals Meet: Continuity and Renewal in Urhobo Art; the new 80,000 square foot museum broke ground at 1280 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan; until completion they organize traveling exhibits

DAYS & HOURS: Office Mon-Fri 10a-5p, Sat-Sun 11a-6p

ADDRESS: 36-01 43rd Avenue, 3rd Floor  MAP

TRANSIT: near 7 subway line

PHONE: 718-784-7700

WEBSITE: http://www.africanart.org

Hempstead, NY

African American Museum
DESCRIPTION: A 6,000 square foot museum that emphasizes the historical contributions of African Americans to the development of Long Island;the  Smithsonian Institution often presents traveling exhibits here

DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Sat 10a-5p

ADDRESS: 110 North Franklin Street  MAP

TRANSIT: Near the Hempstead station for commuter trains to NYC

PHONE: 516-572-0730

WEBSITE: http://www.aamoflongisland.org