Birmingham Civil Rights Institute: Difference between revisions
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The '''Birmingham Civil Rights Institute''' is an interpretive museum, gallery and research center located adjacent to [[Kelly Ingram Park]] in [[Birmingham]]'s [[Civil Rights district]]. It was created by the City of Birmingham, and | The '''Birmingham Civil Rights Institute''' is an interpretive museum, gallery and research center located adjacent to [[Kelly Ingram Park]] in [[Birmingham]]'s [[Civil Rights district]]. Though operating as a private non-profit institution, the BCRI was created by the City of Birmingham. It opened on November 14, [[1992]], | ||
The institute's mission reads "Inspired by our civil rights past, our mission is to encourage communication and reconciliation of human rights issues worldwide, and to serve as a depository for civil rights archives and documents." | |||
==History== | |||
The concept of creating a civil rights museum for the city was given its first official consideration in a weekly news conference by then-mayor [[David Vann]]. A year later, the [[Birmingham City Council]] endorsed the recommendation. In [[1979]], newly-elected mayor [[Richard Arrington]] was authorized by the council to form a committee to pursue the project. Vann and [[UAB]] historian [[Horace Huntley]] were asked to co-chair the Civil Rights Museum Study Committee in [[1981]]. The committee recommended proceeding with the creation of a board of directors and with property acquisition. | |||
While the city began piecing together property, Arrington appointed [[Odessa Woolfolk]] and [[Frank Young]] to co-chair a new Civil Rights Institute Task Force. The new group drafted a mission statement and began working with architects and exhibit designers to plan a thematic program for the public museum. A [[1986 bond issue]] that included $24 million for the BCRI, a science museum and improvements to the [[Birmingham Museum of Art]] was defeated by voters. | |||
Undaunted, the Civil Rights Institute Task Force approved exhibit plans created by the American History Workshop and a building design by New York architecture firm Bond Ryder James in [[1987]]. | |||
Meanwhile the City had consolidated plans for a Civil Rights District centered around Kelly Ingram Park. Mayor Arrington approved plans for renovating the park, creating a [[Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame|Jazz Hall of Fame]] in the [[Carver Theatre]], establishing a site for the Civil Rights Institute, and landscaping public spaces around the [[16th Street Baptist Church]]. Grover Mouton of New Orleans developed the schematic plans for the district while Grover Harrison Harrison landscape architects of Birmingham drew up the detailed design, which included a group of evocative sculptures by James Drake. A [[1998 bond issue]] that would have provided $25 million for various museums was voted down. | |||
In [[1990]] the City Council created a 15-member Board of Directors to pursue the project with a fund-raising campaign. Odessa Woolfolk was appointed president and the new Board adopted the mission statement and exhibit program recommended by the previous Task Force, but hired Boston architect Joseph Wetzel to create a new building design. Revenue bonds issued in [[1991]] by the [[Historical Preservation Authority of Birmingham]] provided initital funding for the redevelopment of the Civil Rights District and construction of the museum. As the facility neared completion, the City entered into an operating agreement with the independent Board to manage the BCRI, Carver Theatre and Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. | |||
A [[Fred Shuttlesworth statue|statue]] of local Civil Rights leader [[Fred Shuttlesworth]] was unveiled in front of the building on Saturday, November 14, 1992. The facility was officially dedicated on Sunday by former Atlanta mayor and United States Ambassador to the United Nations [[Andrew Young]]. It opened to the public on Monday, November 16. Over 25,000 people visited the museum during its first week. | |||
==Exhibits== | |||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
Revision as of 13:40, 28 October 2006
The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is an interpretive museum, gallery and research center located adjacent to Kelly Ingram Park in Birmingham's Civil Rights district. Though operating as a private non-profit institution, the BCRI was created by the City of Birmingham. It opened on November 14, 1992,
The institute's mission reads "Inspired by our civil rights past, our mission is to encourage communication and reconciliation of human rights issues worldwide, and to serve as a depository for civil rights archives and documents."
History
The concept of creating a civil rights museum for the city was given its first official consideration in a weekly news conference by then-mayor David Vann. A year later, the Birmingham City Council endorsed the recommendation. In 1979, newly-elected mayor Richard Arrington was authorized by the council to form a committee to pursue the project. Vann and UAB historian Horace Huntley were asked to co-chair the Civil Rights Museum Study Committee in 1981. The committee recommended proceeding with the creation of a board of directors and with property acquisition.
While the city began piecing together property, Arrington appointed Odessa Woolfolk and Frank Young to co-chair a new Civil Rights Institute Task Force. The new group drafted a mission statement and began working with architects and exhibit designers to plan a thematic program for the public museum. A 1986 bond issue that included $24 million for the BCRI, a science museum and improvements to the Birmingham Museum of Art was defeated by voters.
Undaunted, the Civil Rights Institute Task Force approved exhibit plans created by the American History Workshop and a building design by New York architecture firm Bond Ryder James in 1987.
Meanwhile the City had consolidated plans for a Civil Rights District centered around Kelly Ingram Park. Mayor Arrington approved plans for renovating the park, creating a Jazz Hall of Fame in the Carver Theatre, establishing a site for the Civil Rights Institute, and landscaping public spaces around the 16th Street Baptist Church. Grover Mouton of New Orleans developed the schematic plans for the district while Grover Harrison Harrison landscape architects of Birmingham drew up the detailed design, which included a group of evocative sculptures by James Drake. A 1998 bond issue that would have provided $25 million for various museums was voted down.
In 1990 the City Council created a 15-member Board of Directors to pursue the project with a fund-raising campaign. Odessa Woolfolk was appointed president and the new Board adopted the mission statement and exhibit program recommended by the previous Task Force, but hired Boston architect Joseph Wetzel to create a new building design. Revenue bonds issued in 1991 by the Historical Preservation Authority of Birmingham provided initital funding for the redevelopment of the Civil Rights District and construction of the museum. As the facility neared completion, the City entered into an operating agreement with the independent Board to manage the BCRI, Carver Theatre and Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.
A statue of local Civil Rights leader Fred Shuttlesworth was unveiled in front of the building on Saturday, November 14, 1992. The facility was officially dedicated on Sunday by former Atlanta mayor and United States Ambassador to the United Nations Andrew Young. It opened to the public on Monday, November 16. Over 25,000 people visited the museum during its first week.