21. The Griot Museum of Black History
Address: 2505 St Louis Ave, St. Louis, MO 63106
Site Description: The Griot, founded in 1997, is the first cultural institution in St. Louis which is solely dedicated to revealing the broad scope of Black History and culture. Only the second of its kind in the country, the Griot collects, preserves, interprets, and shares the stories, culture, and history of Black people.
Through compelling core exhibits, dynamic touring shows, educational and entertaining public programs, The Griot creates a community of lifelong learners who explore, experience, and embrace St. Louis’s rich and enduring African-American heritage.
With a vision to be a “premier resource for Black history and culture in the Midwest” and expand into one of the leading arts and heritage organizations in St. Louis, The Griot is in the midst of transformative change with a board and community-led effort to increase capacity to sustain it as an anchor institution.
As an anchor partner, Counterpublic is supporting and expanding The Griot’s efforts through a legacy public art commission, a dedicated fellowship at the museum, and sustained programmatic partnerships. Core to these efforts, Counterpublic has commissioned and donated Sir David Adjaye’s first permanent public artwork to The Griot. Adjaye, one of the world’s leading architects and the designer of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C., is creating the 100ft long rammed earth sculpture on site as one of the largest public art investments in the region’s history.
Additionally, Counterpublic has created a full-time fellowship at The Griot in partnership with the St. Louis Art Museum and supported by The Mellon Foundation that endows a position for two years to maintain, contextualize, and conserve the work and create consistent connections between The Griot, Asaase III and the community.
