Dear BAMPFA Community,

In 2019, BAMPFA received one of the most important gifts in our history: a bequest of more than three thousand African American quilts, the largest collection of its kind. We are deeply honored to care for this historic collection, and we’re thrilled to share a selection of it with you this summer in Routed West: Twentieth-Century African American Quilts in California, opening on June 8.

This moment of celebration is accompanied by a moment of great concern. Like many cultural institutions across the United States, we have been impacted by recent changes to the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The federal government has terminated two grants that BAMPFA had secured from these organizations for the African American Quilt Collection: a multiyear grant under the IMLS’s Save America’s Treasures program to support the necessary conservation of these handmade quilts; and a separate grant from the NEA to support our upcoming exhibition Routed West. In total, the termination of these grants means a loss of more than $260,000 in vital funding for ongoing, time-sensitive work to preserve these artworks for future generations, and to share them with our audiences this summer and fall.

The federal government may feel that this work “no longer serves the interest of the United States.” However, we strongly believe that these quilts are an important piece of African American history and cultural heritage—and therefore of American history and cultural heritage. Our conservation efforts over the last three years and work behind the upcoming exhibition are founded upon this belief, allowing us to share the quilts' artistry and histories with the public.

In a statement I cosigned with several other museums in Northern California, we wrote, “museums are places to connect people, to offer shared experiences and connections to knit together our social fabric, and to preserve stories.” At BAMPFA, we believe that the vibrant multitude of artistic expression we present—from traditions of quiltmaking to experimental films and beyond—makes our communities stronger by fostering knowledge, connection, and greater empathy.

We are honored to be the stewards of this important collection and take this responsibility seriously. But in this time of great uncertainty, we can’t do it without you. Here’s how you can help:

• Bring your friends to our Routed West Community Day on Sunday, June 8 with free gallery admission.
• Make a donation to BAMPFA or join as a member.
• Contact your representatives in support of IMLS and NEA.

Despite the challenges we face at this time, nothing will diminish BAMPFA’s pride and enthusiasm for our upcoming exhibition this summer. We hope you join us for this exhibition, and look forward to being with you in celebration of joy, creativity, resilience, and quilts!

Julie Rodrigues Widholm
Executive Director