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Celebrating 200 Years of Innovation: The Brooklyn Museum Kicks Off Its Bicentennial Anniversary
October 3, 2024, 7:15.37 pm ET

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Photo: Paula Abreu Pita

The Brooklyn Museum is officially launching its 200th anniversary celebration, marking two centuries of groundbreaking history and paving the way for an exciting future. This milestone celebration begins with a dynamic array of exhibitions, educational initiatives, refreshed dining options, and a full slate of events.

Exhibitions that Redefine Art in Brooklyn

Supported by Bank of America, the anniversary festivities kick off with two remarkable exhibitions. The first, Toward Joy: New Frameworks for American Art, offers a transformative reinstallation of the American Art galleries, reorienting how audiences engage with this esteemed collection. The second exhibition, The Brooklyn Artists Exhibition, features the work of over 200 artists, showcasing the incredible creativity that flourishes in the borough.

As part of the bicentennial events, the Museum will also unveil Solid Gold in November. This sweeping exhibition will explore the grandeur of gold through 6,000 years of art, fashion, and design. In 2025, visitors can look forward to Breaking the Mold: Brooklyn Museum at 200, which will comprise three chapters celebrating the collection's rich history and its future evolution.

Weekend Birthday Bash: A Community Celebration

On October 5 and 6, 2024, the Museum will host a Birthday Bash, a weekend-long celebration filled with activities for all ages. Highlights include printmaking classes with Shoestring Press, a poetry marathon, live music from the Brooklyn United Marching Band, curator pop-up talks, and much more. A special feature of the event will be the debut of Museum on Wheels, a mobile museum housed in an Airstream trailer, designed to bring arts and cultural programming to various communities across Brooklyn. The trailer, adorned with vibrant artwork by local artist Christopher Myers, will also make stops in Sunset Park and Bay Ridge this fall, officially launching in spring 2025.

“Our anniversary program embodies everything we stand for: championing trailblazing art, expanding historical narratives, and bringing our communities together in celebration,” says Anne Pasternak, Shelby White and Leon Levy Director, Brooklyn Museum. “And as we find abundant inspiration in our inspiring past, we are ready to go bigger. Our museum has an important role to play in expanding understanding of people across the street and around the world, resisting the forces that divide us, and building bridges to our shared humanity.”

Culinary Innovations and Visitor Experience Enhancements

To enhance the visitor experience, the Museum has introduced a new dining option in the pavilion adjacent to its main entrance. The Café, featuring cuisine by renowned Brooklyn chef André Mack, offers a robust menu with locally sourced ingredients. Open to the public without requiring a museum ticket, the Café invites museum-goers and local residents alike to enjoy a meal or grab-and-go options.

This new dining experience is part of a broader initiative to rejuvenate the Museum’s offerings, which also includes a new brand identity, an upcoming website launch, exclusive merchandise, and vital infrastructure updates that lay the groundwork for future renovations.

A Legacy of Innovation and Community Engagement

The Brooklyn Museum’s history began in 1824 with the establishment of the Brooklyn Apprentices' Library Association, aimed at inspiring and educating Brooklyn’s growing immigrant populations. Over the years, the institution has evolved into a cultural landmark known for its commitment to creative innovation, inclusion, diversity, and social good.

With an encyclopedic collection of over 140,000 objects spanning 6,000 years of human history, the Museum continually broadens artistic narratives and amplifies diverse voices. Its legacy includes numerous pioneering milestones, such as hosting the first U.S. exhibitions dedicated to African and international modern art, establishing formal education departments, and creating the Center for Feminist Art.

As the Museum embarks on its bicentennial journey, it remains a vital cultural destination, showcasing the power of art as a catalyst for growth, healing, and joy.

For a detailed overview of the anniversary programs and events, visit the Museum’s website at brooklynmuseum.org/about/200 and join the conversation by following #BkM200 on social media.


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