New Hip Hop Museum Launches In Harlem During NYC’s Hip Hop Week

By Alexis Jeffries
September 12, 2006
Vibe.com

The Global Artists Coalition (GAC) is launching a temporary hip hop museum and cultural center during New York City’s “Hip Hop Week” in October.

The Museum and cultural center, located at the Magic Johnson Theaters in Harlem and launching October 12-17, will provide underserved young adults with access to hip hop music, dance and a cultural context to hip hop music during the month of October, New York City’s first annual hip hop month.

“Hip Hop was invented in New York City neighborhoods like Harlem,” said Curtis Sherrod, Director of Community Services for GAC. “It has impacted generations across the globe and it’s time for a first-class institution that celebrates this culture.”

Memorabilia for legendary hip hop artists like Salt-n-Pepa, Melle Mel, Grandmaster Flash and the Sugar Hill Gang is slated to be featured in the exhibit.

The new Harlem-based memorial will feature workshops, music listening stations, film screenings and interactive demonstrations devoted to intensifying the cultural significance of hip hop to today’s youth.

“The proposed hip hop museum and cultural center will be a boom to Harlem’s economy, and will certainly help to enhance New York City’s status as an important tourist destination and the birthplace of hip hop,” Joshua Gindsburgh of the New York City Economic Development Corporation said.

GAC is looking to raise $4.9 million to erect a permanent hip hop museum in the city. The company has previously launched temporary hip hop museums in Miami, Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and Philadelphia.

Source vibe.com