David C. Driskell Center

David C. Driskell Center
Name	David C. Driskell Center
Formation	2001
Founder	University of Maryland, College Park
Type	Art center, archive, and research institute
Headquarters	College Park, Maryland
Location	United States
Key people	David C. Driskell, Curlee Raven Holton
Focus	African American art and visual culture
Website	https://driskellcenter.umd.edu/

David C. Driskell Center. The David C. Driskell Center is a premier academic center and museum dedicated to the study and preservation of African American art and visual culture. Founded in 2001 at the University of Maryland, College Park, it honors the legacy of the renowned artist and art historian David C. Driskell. The center serves as a vital hub for exhibitions, scholarly research, and public programming, promoting a deeper understanding of the contributions of Black artists to the global art world.

History and founding

The center was established in 2001 through a partnership between the University of Maryland, College Park and David C. Driskell, a towering figure in 20th-century American art. Its creation was championed by then-University President C.D. Mote Jr. and supported by a significant gift from Robert E. Steele, the former director of the University of Maryland Art Gallery. The initiative was driven by a need to create an institutional home dedicated to the documentation and study of African American art, a field Driskell helped to define through his seminal 1976 exhibition, "Two Centuries of Black American Art." The center was formally dedicated in its current facility in 2004, solidifying its role within the academic and cultural landscape of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

Mission and purpose

The core mission is to promote the field of African American art through exhibitions, collections, and interdisciplinary scholarship. It aims to preserve the rich legacy of artists of African descent and to educate diverse audiences about their cultural and historical significance. A key purpose is to support emerging and established scholars, providing resources that foster innovative research on the African Diaspora and its visual traditions. The center also commits to making its holdings accessible to the public and academic community, thereby challenging traditional art historical narratives and expanding the canon.

Collections and exhibitions

The center houses an extensive archive and a growing fine art collection, including works by David C. Driskell, Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett, and James Lesesne Wells. Its archival holdings comprise personal papers, photographs, and ephemera related to significant figures like Lois Mailou Jones and Driskell himself. The exhibition program features both historical surveys and contemporary shows, having presented works by artists such as Faith Ringgold, Sam Gilliam, and Mickalene Thomas. Notable past exhibitions include "Narratives of African American Art and Identity" and "The Art of Purvis Young."

David C. Driskell Prize

Since 2005, the center has annually awarded the David C. Driskell Prize, one of the first national awards to honor contributions to the field of African American art. The prize includes a $50,000 award and is sponsored by the High Museum of Art in Atlanta. Distinguished recipients have included artists like Kerry James Marshall and Amy Sherald, as well as scholars and curators such as Valerie Cassel Oliver of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and Thelma Golden of The Studio Museum in Harlem. The award ceremony is a significant event in the art world, highlighting ongoing innovation and excellence.

Publications and scholarship

The center actively contributes to academic discourse through catalogues, monographs, and its online journal, *The Driskell Center Series*. These publications often accompany exhibitions and feature essays by leading scholars like Richard J. Powell and Deborah Willis. It hosts symposia, lectures, and the annual David C. Driskell Center Distinguished Lecture Series, which has featured notable speakers including Toni Morrison and Henry Louis Gates Jr.. This scholarly output is essential for advancing research and providing educational resources for students and faculty at the University of Maryland and beyond.

Building and location

The center is located in the Cole Field House complex on the campus of the University of Maryland, College Park in College Park, Maryland. The facility includes gallery spaces for exhibitions, a reading room for researchers to access the archive, and administrative offices. Its proximity to major cultural institutions in Washington, D.C., such as the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Phillips Collection, fosters collaboration and amplifies its regional impact. The building serves as both a physical repository for art and a dynamic venue for public engagement.

Category:Art museums and galleries in Maryland Category:University of Maryland, College Park Category:African-American art Category:Art organizations based in the United States Category:2001 establishments in Maryland