Serving as the August Wilson African American Cultural Center’s inaugural Curatorial Fellow was certainly an enlightening experience. For many years prior to this fellowship, I would fantasize about working as a visual art curator. It just seemed like a cool job — working in a creative space, being tasked with caring for art works, and producing educational experiences for people to take part in. This position did not come without its challenges but was enlightening nonetheless because — since I hadn’t had any museum curatorial roles before — it taught me what a full-time curatorial position could look like. I think all new experiences can be looked at with gratitude because you inevitably learn more about yourself (for better or worse) after having gone through said experience. This is my sentiment with regard to this Fellowship. Now that I’ve completed it, I know more about myself than I did before, an evolution of sorts.
Something I very much appreciated about the fellowship was the dual natured structure of the program. On the one hand, many of my responsibilities served more of a support function to my supervisors on the visual arts team, however, on the other hand, I was also able to take the lead on several projects. This gave me insights and skills, serving both as a supporter and also leader. Additionally, given the center’s vast network of artists and collaborators, I was able to meet, interact with, and get to know a good handful of phenomenal creatives (on the local, national, and international levels).
The project I enjoyed most during this fellowship was the development, facilitation, and implementation of the center’s first open call for art: Being/Seen. This artistic showcase was meant to highlight the breadth of creative talent local to Pittsburgh. Being/Seen gave 36 Black Pittsburgh artists the opportunity to showcase their works at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center. This project was special because it allowed me to meet and work with many of the talented Black creatives who reside within the Greater Pittsburgh community. As someone who had just moved to Pittsburgh to work in a curatorial role, that experience was invaluable.
The August Wilson African American Cultural Center is a unique organization that aims to serve Pittsburgh by providing quality access to the lexicon of Black culture and art. The center is community oriented, education focused and makes Black art and culture an excitable topic for any visitor. I am deeply grateful for this experience.