Mission

The Africa Center provides a gateway for engagement with contemporary Africa.

The Africa Center is transforming the world’s understanding of Africa, its Diaspora, and the role of people of African descent in the world. Serving as the hub for the exchange of ideas related to the continent, and in the spirit of collaboration with individuals and institutions who share our values, The Africa Center inspires enthusiasm, advances thought, and empowers action around Africa’s global impact on our collective futures. This mission is guided by a leadership team that includes Board Co-Chairs Chelsea Clinton and Jendayi Frazer, Board President Halima Aliko Dangote, and CEO Uzodinma Iweala.

The Africa Center’s physical presence on Fifth Avenue at the intersection of Harlem and the Museum Mile is a location that embodies the dynamism and diversity of Africa and its Diaspora in the heart of New York City. Caples Jefferson Architects (CJA) was engaged in 2016 to design the facility, responding to The Africa Center’s ethos as an experimental, inclusive institution fostering business, policy, and cultural exchange locally and globally. To serve the Center’s programming, the New York-based firm designed a receptive, flexible, and expansive structure—its Museum Mile location in East Harlem contextualized architecturally and programmatically.

Since launching its public programming in January 2019, The Africa Center has already attracted and engaged thousands of visitors in a series of inaugural performances, installations, talks, readings, book signings, and film screenings. Teranga, a fast-casual restaurant located on the Center’s first floor that highlights food from the continent and hosts tastings and cooking demonstrations aligned with the Center’s programming and mission, has received critical acclaim.

General Information

Public Hours

Admission

Admission to The Africa Center is free, except for ticketed exhibitions, programs and events. For details about our current programs and to purchase tickets, please click here.

Location

The Africa Center is located on Museum Mile at the intersection of 110th Street and Fifth Avenue. We are accessible by taking the 2 and 3 trains to the 110th Street Station/Central Park North Station or by taking the 6 train to the 110th Street Station.

Our physical address is:

1280 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10029

Contact Us

212-444-9795

For information on exhibitions and group tours, please contact visit@theafricacenter.org. For general inquiries, please email info@theafricacenter.org. For press and media inquiries, please email press@theafricacenter.org.

Group Visits or Tours

For more information about group tours, please contact visit@theafricacenter.org.

Partnership Proposals  

If you are interested in partnering with the Africa Center to present a program or an event, please complete our Partnership Proposal Form. NOTE: The Africa Center does not currently accept unsolicited exhibition proposals.

Facility Rentals

If you’re interested in renting The Africa Center for a special event, please complete our Event Space Rental Inquiry Form. A member of our team will contact you directly to discuss the details of your request.

Accessibility

The Africa Center strives to accommodate visitors of all abilities in a welcoming environment. Ramp access is available at the Center’s main entrance at 1280 Fifth Avenue. The Center’s installation space, Teranga, and restroom facilities are wheelchair accessible.

Visitor Guidelines

• Service animals are welcome. Pets are not permitted in the Center.
• Please do not touch the works of art on display, including wall installations.
• Outside food and drinks are not permitted in the Center.
• Unless otherwise noted, photography in the Center is allowed for personal, non-commercial purposes only. Videotaping and tripods are prohibited.
• The Center does not have a coat check and does not accept any items for storage.
• Smoking and e-cigarettes are not permitted anywhere within the building.
• The use of charcoal, pastels, permanent markers, paint, and easels is prohibited.
• The Africa Center’s staff and visitors have the right to an environment free from abuse, threatening, or inappropriate behavior. The Center reserves the right to remove any person acting in an unacceptable or inappropriate manner.
• Please note that visitors to the Center may be photographed, videotaped, or otherwise recorded. By visiting or attending a program, you grant the Center permission to use photographs and/or audiovisual recordings in which you appear for archival, documentary, publicity, advertising, or other purposes.

Volunteer Opportunities

The Africa Center is recruiting volunteers to assist with public programs. If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out our application form. Due to limited capacity we cannot accommodate all applications, only those candidates considered for an interview will be contacted.