Nafasi on Center: Pittsburgh's New Cultural Hub for Black Artists

Nafasi on Center, a new cultural hub exclusively for Black artists, opened in November 2020 in Pittsburgh's Hill District. The center, whose name means "opportunity" in Swahili, provides studio space, a bar/gallery, and four apartments across three floors. It hosts six resident artists in a two-year program offering financial support, mentorship, and business training. The first residents include Ray "AmunRay" Butler, Cynthia "IAMCynth" Kenderson, Deavron "The Urban Explorer" Dailey, and Dawn "Ruby Dawn" Surgest. The project is a collaboration between the Hill Community Development Corp and #ArtsInHD, with funding from the Opportunity Fund, Greater Hill District Development Growth Fund, and Dollar Bank. Marimba Milliones, president and CEO of Hill CDC, stated the center will be important for revitalizing the Hill District as a strategic area for Black arts, culture, and business. The initiative follows the opening of St. Benedict the Moor parish in July 2020, also in the Hill District, which serves the Black Catholic community. Both efforts respond to systemic racism and police violence against African Americans, as highlighted by the 2018 antisemitic attacks in Pittsburgh. The center aims to foster economic empowerment and cultural preservation within the Black community.