Welcome to the African American
Museum of the Arts.
Open from 10 am to 4 pm Wednesday
thru Saturday.
Admission is $1.00 Students are free. Please schedule
tours in advance.
 Founded
in 1994 and located in historic DeLand, the seat of Volusia County
Government, AAMA is a unique and vital resource in this part of
Florida. It is the only museum in the area devoted primarily to
African American cultures and art.
 The
museum houses a revolving gallery where visitors will find works
of both established and emerging artists.
The museum is also the home to a permanent collection
of more than 150 artifacts, including sculptures and masks from
countries of Africa.
In addition to the visual arts, the museum founded
the Little Theater of DeLand in 1999 to afford children and adults
an opportunity to develop their dramatic abilities.
With regard to the literary arts, the museum
is researching the history of Spring Hill, the community in which
the museum is located, for the purpose of writing a book.
 OUR HISTORY
The
African American Museum of the Arts was founded in 1994 by Irene D.
Johnson who had long envisioned a place for African American artists
to display their works year round. Johnson wanted to create a place
that would shape the thinking of young African Americans in a
positive and self affirming manner. After
numerous community meetings with friends and leaders from West
Volusia, a board of directors was established on September 22, 1994,
for the newly created African American Museum of the Arts. Two
months later in November, the museum signed an agreement with the
DeLand Housing Authority for a 1200 square foot facility located in
the heart of the African American community in DeLand, Florida.
The museum was incorporated on January 10, 1995;
thanks to the services of Attorney Larry Sands. On May 3, 1995,
the museum received its 501 (c) (3) non-profit tax exempt status
and opened its doors to the public on October 8th, 1995. Since its
founding, the museum has provided exhibitions of the highest quality,
held classes for youngsters and seniors, and is frequently the meeting
place for community organizations. In interacting with the community,
the museum has participated in numerous festivals, sponsored exhibits
in schools, businesses, and churches throughout Volusia County.
The AAMA enables the public to become more informed about the rich
heritage of African Americans and Caribbean Americans.
AAMA
Board of Directors 2006 |
Executive
Committee |
President |
Maxwell
Johnson |
Vice
President |
Carrie
Smokes |
Secretary |
Loretta
Dabbs |
|
|
Members |
Attorney
John B. Crowther (complimentary) |
Alzada
Fowler |
Morgan
Gilreath |
Patricia
James |
Joseph
Killeen |
Carmen
Roberts |
Kingsley
Shinner, BS, EA (complimentary) |
| |
|
Museum
Staff |
Festival
Coordinator |
Mary
Allen |
Exhibition
Coordinator |
Kitty
Allen |
Music
Instructor |
Danielle
Gutierrez |
Reading
Club Instructor |
Primrose
Hall |
Newsletter
Editor |
Gail
Pasley |
Ballet
and Tap Instructor |
Erica
Penn |
Administrative
Assistant |
Henisha
Williams |
Executive
Director |
Irene
D. Johnson |
|
