The Bedford Stuyvesant Museum of African Art (BSMAA) is a not-for-profit arts organization dedicated to providing an enriching educations experience to an under-served community in Central Brooklyn.

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With is unique collection of artwork form more than 40 of the 54 African countries, the museum enriches the lives of the multicultural community of Central Brooklyn and brings pride to the youth population. Furthermore, the museum strives to increase a broader appreciation and encourages a deeper understanding of the diverse art and cultures around the world. The African art housed in the museum succeeds in teaching its patrons not only about the diverse cultures in Africa but also how the customs and traditions (“symbols”) from this vast and diverse continent are reflected in other world cultures from American’s Native Americans, South America, Asia and the Middle East.

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BSMAA strives to communicate with and enrich a diverse population throughout Brooklyn with its unique art collection.

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The museum continues to add traditional, as well as contemporary and modern African art, to its collection. Since many traditional African artisans are passing on to join their ancestors, the genius of these carvers may be lost forever. The museum founders believe that young African artisans should be encouraged to create the art masterpieces of today that will be the revered antique pieces of the future.

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The core of the museum is its world-class permanent collection. But the Museum also achieves its mission through exhibits, in-museum and outreach tours, video presentations, lectures, films, youth and adult workshops, story-telling, academic courses, artists-in-residence programs, partnerships with other arts organizations and museums, visiting scholars as well as school and community outreach programs.

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The museum’s exhibits and other enrichment programs create an excellent development opportunity for children while promoting family interaction and a renewed sense of community.

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It takes a village.