Grand Opening Ceremony - Cultural Museum of African Art Inc (CMAAEEC)

A Milestone in the Museum’s History

On Saturday, November 18, 2023, the Cultural Museum of African Art, Inc. – The Eric Edwards Collection (CMAAEEC) held its Grand Opening Ceremony at Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation.

The Grand Opening marked an important milestone in the development of the Museum and the presentation of the Eric Edwards Collection to the public.

In 2021, CMAAEEC received a $1,000,000 grant from the New York State Assembly to create the Museum, thanks to the leadership of NYS Assemblymember Stefani Zinerman and NYS Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.

CMAAEEC has amassed more than 3,000 unique African artifacts from all 54 countries on the African continent, spanning more than 4,000 years of human history, with many pieces directly from African Royal Families.

The design of the new CMAAEEC Museum at Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation was created by world-renowned architect Rodney Leon, architect of the African Burial Ground National Monument in Lower Manhattan and the Ark of Return at the United Nations.

CMAAEEC is also in the process of creating the Museum of the Future. The physical exhibition will be paired with a 3D, 360-degree digital experience of the African artifacts in the collection.

In addition, CMAAEEC has developed an Educational Curriculum that expands knowledge of the contributions of the peoples of the African Diaspora. Since 2017, the curriculum has been disseminated throughout New York City through a partnership with the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

CMAAEEC seeks to expand its educational reach by developing relationships with the New York City Department of Education, as well as other school districts and organizations.