MCNY Opens Puffin Foundation Center for Social Activism with $8M Donation
The Museum of the City of New York (MCNY) will unveil the Puffin Foundation Center for Social Activism in East Harlem this fall, following an $8 million donation from the Puffin Foundation, marking the second largest contribution in the museum's history. This center replaces the Puffin Foundation Gallery for Social Activism, which opened in 2012. Curated by Sarah Seidman, a new iteration of 'Activist New York' will be featured, organized into categories such as demonstrations and direct action. The inaugural temporary exhibition, 'Halumii Ktapihna: Lenape Legacies and Future,' opens on September 25, commemorating the 400th anniversary of Manhattan's purchase by Peter Minuit.
Key facts
- MCNY will open the Puffin Foundation Center for Social Activism this fall in East Harlem.
- The center replaces the Puffin Foundation Gallery for Social Activism, which opened in 2012.
- The Puffin Foundation donated $8 million, the second-largest gift in MCNY's history.
- The Puffin Foundation was founded by Perry Rosenstein.
- The center will feature a new version of the exhibition 'Activist New York' curated by Sarah Seidman.
- The exhibition is organized around four categories: demonstrations, organizing, direct action, and art media.
- The center's first temporary exhibition, 'Halumii Ktapihna: Lenape Legacies and Future,' opens September 25.
- The exhibition marks the 400th anniversary of the purchase of Manhattan by Peter Minuit.
- The center will host six public events per year and fund an annual fellowship for 12 years.
- The opening occurs amid political pressure on museums to avoid 'woke' content, with Trump targeting the Smithsonian.
Entities
Artists
- Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya
- Perry Rosenstein
- Sarah Seidman
- Shirley Chisholm
- Peter Minuit
Institutions
- Museum of the City of New York
- Puffin Foundation
- Puffin Foundation Center for Social Activism
- Puffin Foundation Gallery for Social Activism
- Smithsonian Institution
- Institute of Museum and Library Services
- Human Rights Commission
- Hyperallergic
Locations
- East Harlem
- New York City
- Manhattan
- Brooklyn
- United States