Getty Invests an Additional $1.55 Million to Preserve Modern Architecture by Black Architects and Designers

Today, The Getty Foundation and the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund (Action Fund), of the National Historic Trust for Preservation, announced a third $1.55 million round of funding in support of Conserving Black Modernism, bringing the total investment to $4.65 million for this program dedicated to preserving historic modernist buildings created by Black architects and designers. Getty's latest investment will enable the Action Fund to support preservation planning, training, and storytelling for eight Conserving Black Modernism grantees in 2025, while continuing to diversify our nation's architectural history.

Conserving Black Modernism is a Getty Foundation-funded initiative within the Action Fund's National Grant Program, which to date has invested $27 million in 304 Black historic and cultural sites across the country. With more than $150 million in funding, the Action Fund is the largest U.S. resource dedicated to the preservation of African American historic places.

"African American architects and designers have been left out of the modern architecture movement for over a century. Because of this, many pioneers of the Black modernism movement remain unknown, despite the incredible work they have done to fuel innovation, experimentation and push the limits of how people interact with the built environment," said Brent Leggs, Executive Director of the Action Fund and senior vice president of the National Trust. "With the support of the Getty Foundation, the Action Fund will continue to leverage historic preservation as a force that ensures the contributions of Black people and culture are protected and included in the narrative of our nation's heritage."

"By extending Conserving Black Modernism, we get closer to our shared goal of expanding the story of mid-century architecture to include the advances and innovations of African American architects," said Joan Weinstein, Director of the Getty Foundation. "Important buildings continue to be threatened, and a third year of Conserving Black Modernism will deliver much needed project support and critical training in communities across the country to ensure a robust network of professionals are in place to care for this heritage into the future."

In addition to directly funding critical preservation projects, the Getty Foundation grant will support convenings of project participants, consultants, and preservationists that foster peer-to-peer learning and professional connections. It will also deepen lasting partnerships between the Action Fund, Getty, Black heritage networks, grantees, and national stakeholders preserving sites of Black-designed modern architecture.

This is the Getty Foundation's 18th grant to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Previous grants have supported annual conferences, conservation planning at individual sites, and major initiatives and partnerships such as Save America's Treasures, the Fund for New Orleans, and the Neighborhood Mainstreet Initiative.

Applications for the Conserving Black Modernism program are managed by the Action Fund and will be accepted beginning January 10, 2025. Grantees will be announced in July 2025.

The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund (Action Fund) is an initiative of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Launched in 2017, its mission is to make an important and lasting contribution to the American landscape by preserving sites of Black activism, achievement, and resilience. The Action Fund's work is guided by its Founding Executive Director Brent Leggs, and supported by the Ford Foundation, Getty Foundation, Lilly Endowment Inc., Mellon Foundation, and other philanthropic partners. To learn more, visit: www.savingplaces.org/actionfund.

Getty is a leading global arts organization committed to the exhibition, conservation, and understanding of the world's artistic and cultural heritage. Working collaboratively with partners around the globe, the Getty Foundation, Getty Conservation Institute, Getty Museum and Getty Research Institute are all dedicated to the greater understanding of the relationships between the world's many cultures. The Los Angeles-based J. Paul Getty Trust and Getty programs share art, knowledge, and resources online at Getty.edu and welcome the public for free at the Getty Center and the Getty Villa.