Mission
The mission of the Black Heritage Gallery is to lead a diverse audience in discovering African American artists and to nurture artists at all stages of their careers.
History
The Black Heritage Gallery, a project of the Black Heritage Festival of Louisiana, opened on June 28, 2001, with a grant from the Junior League of Lake Charles, Inc. The opening exhibit honored the legends of the national Negro leagues and the hometown heroes of Southwest Louisiana. Located in Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center, the gallery is among the 26 initial sites on Louisiana’s African American Heritage Trail that Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu announced in February 2008.
Since its inception, the gallery has showcased emerging and mid-career artists at its original location in Central School Arts & Humanities Center. In December 2019, the Gallery moved into its new location at Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center. There are six exhibits a year that last for 7 weeks. A vision of Stella Miller and Frankie Lane, the gallery is the only institution dedicated to the arts and culture of African Americans in Southwest Louisiana.
Non-Profit Information
The Black Heritage Gallery is an exempt nonprofit organization under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.