We are brought together by our appreciation for the artistic and cultural contributions of African Americans.
The Friends of African American Art & Culture (FAAAC) is a CMA membership affinity group inclusive of all genders, ethnicities, and ages.
No matter the medium, African American art evokes a vibrant culture, an indomitable spirit, and a strong sense of place. As an affiliate group of the Columbia Museum of Art, the FAAAC offers museum members a chance to step behind the canvas and discover what compels these artists to create the work they do.
FAAAC membership privileges:
- Access to private gatherings at the homes and/or studios of world-renowned creators of African American art
- Opportunities to speak with artists about the stories behind their work and their creation process within their selected medium
- Access to local and regional tours and events
- Connection to a diverse group of African American art enthusiasts
- Advance notice on special events through our monthly newsletter
You'll be in great company!
Get in Touch!
To find out more about the FAAAC, email us at [email protected].
Join FAAAC
Add an FAAAC membership to your existing CMA membership:
$15 for one cardholder, $25 for two
$5 for students
This upgrade is only valid with a current CMA membership. Not sure if you're current? Give us a call at 803-799-2810 or email [email protected].
Not yet a CMA member? Join today!
You'll have a chance to add the Friends of African American Art and Culture to your membership during checkout.
Already an FAAAC Member?
Looking for a way to give your affinity group some support?
Upcoming Events
FAAAC Members Stay Connected
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Enduring Spirit Awards
The Enduring Spirit Awards honor the outstanding achievements of African American women in the Midlands who are working to improve their communities.
They are named in honor of the work of Columbia artist Tyrone Geter who credits his mother as the inspiration for his art. -
A Backstage Look at Art
FAAAC members get up close and personal with visits to the private homes and studios of world-renowned artists
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A Finger on the Pulse
The FAAAC creates rich programming to keep you connected with African American culture in South Carolina. Not only that, they keep you informed of what's happening elsewhere in the region so you never miss a beat.
Recorded February 19, 2023
FAAAC presents A Conversation with Hafizah Augustus Geter and Tyrone Geter
On the heels of her recently released debut memoir, The Black Period: On Personhood, Race and Origin, celebrated author and poet Hafizah Augustus Geter joins the Friends of African American Art & Culture (FAAAC) for a reception, book-signing, and moderated talk. The author is joined by her father, world-class artist, painter, sculptor, illustrator, and educator Tyrone Geter, who provided the inspiring artwork featured on the book jacket and throughout the pages of The Black Period.
Dr. Nancy Tolson, FAAAC board member, CMA commissioner, and assistant director of African American Studies at the University of South Carolina, guides the discussion.
Recorded January 28, 2023
FAAAC presents Exploring the Essence of Humanity: An Artist Talk with YoYo Lander
The Friends of African American Art & Culture welcomed home artist and South Carolina native YoYo Lander for a moderated conversation. Through a meticulous process of strategically placing individually stained pieces of watercolor on paper, Lander’s works beautifully capture those small moments in the everyday lives of her subjects, evoking emotion and creating human connection. “My aesthetic is visceral and expressive,” explains Lander. “My passion is to use body language as an introduction to context where one might find a sense of truth.”
Ingrid O. McMillan — FAAAC board member and former curator of history, art and culture at the York W. Bailey Museum at the Penn Center on St. Helena Island, S.C. — engages Lander in conversation.
Recorded January 16, 2023
FAAAC presents A Storytelling Celebration
Storytelling is an age-old tradition and source of inspiration for art from around the globe, but art can also inspire the stories shared by today’s raconteurs. Join CMA affinity group the Friends of African American Art & Culture (FAAAC) for a storytelling event celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as well as the exhibition The Art of Elizabeth Catlett: From the Collection of Samella Lewis.
Recorded June 2022
Modern Rhythms with CMA Curator Michael Neumeister
Honor a major milestone with the Friends of African American Art & Culture (FAAAC) and meet the CMA’s new curator, Michael Neumeister. The CMA affinity group celebrates Modern Rhythms, a new gallery featuring works on paper from the CMA Collection and showcasing FAAAC’s first-ever art acquisition — Oliver Lee Jackson’s Monotype IV (2006) — recently gifted to the museum.
Recorded January 17, 2022
FAAAC presents 30 Americans: A Storytelling Celebration
In celebration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and to bid farewell to the artistry of the 30 Americans exhibition on closing day, join the Friends of African American Art & Culture (FAAAC) for a storytelling event. Four storytellers tell stories inspired by the exhibition artists — Southern tales, city tales, and sure'nuf tales that will make you laugh, cry, and appreciate the beauty within Black art.
Recorded September 6, 2020
FAAAC Presents Forever Beautiful: A Storytelling Celebration
Kwame Brathwaite’s photography popularized the political slogan “Black is Beautiful” throughout the late 1950s and 1960s, and it still resonates as powerfully today as it did at the height of the second Harlem Renaissance. To honor the work of Brathwaite, the history of the culture, and the continued importance of the message, join CMA affinity group Friends of African American Arts & Culture (FAAAC) as they bring together Black lovers of art to share their experiences and explore the impact and relevance of Brathwaite’s photography in today’s political and cultural climate.
Past Events
What have we been up to?
Download the FAAAC's FY20 Annual Report to learn more.