Collection at the Crossroads New Directions for the Harn Museum of Art's African Collection

Abstract

The Harn Museum of Art at the University of Florida has acquired recently an unprecedented number of both historical and contemporary African art works. The collection plan's goals include expanding the traditional and historical collection by reinforcing its holdings of West African art (the strongest portion of the collection); providing better representation of Central, South, and East African arts; and collecting African contemporary works to show the continuity of African art production. Most contemporary acquisitions involved a partnership among the director, African curator, contemporary art curator, as well as other curators. This collaboration established a precedent for the Museum, invigorating the acquisition process. During the last six years, the museum originated seven successful exhibitions of African art, from traditional to contemporary works. The new strategy of installing contemporary African works in both African and Contemporary exhibitions has engaged both staff and audiences in a new and stimulating dialogue about representation of African art in the Harn, as well as in museum contexts in general.