Labor of Love

An ethnographic study of the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts+ Culture in Charlotte, North Carolina

This brief looks at working for and with a Black cultural center

December 2025

2 Min Read

Download Brief

a group of people in a circle, some with drums, with a man in the middle of the circle with a drum

Table of Contents

Overview

Ideas In Practice

Publisher(s)
The Wallace Foundation

Page Count 2 pages

DOI Link
https://doi.org/10.59656/A-AO0139.001

Summary

How we did this

The researcher spent a year with The Gantt cultural center observing how the organization functions on a day-to-day basis. She also interviewed current and former staff members and artists to explore the history and aspirations of the Gantt.

The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture (The Gantt) was founded in 1974, in part to preserve an African-American cultural footprint in downtown Charlotte, North Carolina. Over time, they were able to expand and open a dedicated facility to support their work. In addition to supporting Carolina-based artists, this expansion also allowed The Gantt to become an international destination for Black and African art.

Their ethnographic researcher, Monica Barra, describes both opportunities and challenges that arts organizations rooted in communities of color may face when expanding. This includes how to balance national and international artists while maintaining a commitment to locally based artists.

This brief is based on a study by Monica Barra Ph.D., University of South Carolina

Today The Gantt actively seeks to provide support and programming relevant to regional Black artists and communities, while also serving as an international destination for Black and African art.