Detroit Institute of Arts Launches African American Art Acquisition Campaign

The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) has announced a multi-million dollar, three-year campaign to acquire works by African American artists and organize related exhibitions, prompted by the city's demographic makeup and recent events in Dallas. The initiative, funded by General Motors and the Ford Foundation, begins with the acquisition of David Hammons' 1990 piece "Bird." DIA director Salvador Salort-Pons aims to address the disparity between Detroit's population—82.7% African American per the 2010 census—and the museum's audience, which is only 10% African American. A recent Rubell Family Collection exhibition drew 50,000 visitors, 41% of whom were African American, signaling potential for change. Separately, London's 1:54 contemporary African art fair and Somerset House will present the first major solo show of Malick Sidibé, opening October 6 during Frieze week, featuring 45 original prints from the 1960s and 1970s.