‘We Want to Join the Party’: New Center to Promote African and Latino Culture
Emile Derygou emigrated from Benin to New York 11 years ago but remains a proud West African. He reveled in the performances of coupe de calle, dances set to rhythmic drums, at the annual African Day Parade.
“When you hear it, it brings back memories,” he said. He frequents the Malcolm Shabazz Market and Le Petit Senegal, where shoppers can find traditional carved wooden figurines and handmade African-style clothes. But that’s merchandise. “There’s so much more to our culture,” Derygou said.
Enter: My Image Studios.
Construction began last month on the 20,000-square-foot Harlem center that will spotlight African and Latino culture. The project, called MIST for short, aims to support established and emerging artists and revive the local economy.
“It’s the cultural capital of the world,” My Image Studios’ chief executive, Ronald Laird, said of Harlem. He hopes MIST will be a stage for two growing local populations. “It will focus on the African and Latino diaspora,” he said.
Curtis Archer, president of Harlem Community Development Corp., said, “There aren’t many African cultural centers, but MIST would be a good draw.” He added that the area between Lenox and Eighth Avenues is so dense with West Africans that it could be called Little Africa.
About 15 percent of Harlem’s black population is foreign born, with a growing number from Africa and the Caribbean, according to a 2000 census. The Latino population, once concentrated in East Harlem, has reached an all-time high in central Harlem, up 27 percent since 2000. “It would be great for that underrepresented culture,” Archer said of MIST.
In the center, 13,000 square feet will serve as arts space, including three theaters totaling 344 seats, for multicultural music, dance, independent films, spoken word and theatrical performances. The remaining space is reserved for a restaurant and bar, featuring foods influenced by African, Caribbean and Latin American cuisine.
MIST organizers are trying to emulate the 92nd Street Y, the famous Upper East Side culture center, said Alexa Birdsong, director of programming. “We want something that’s community based – for the community, by the community,” she said.
“The art scene in Harlem is historic,” said Birdsong. “It’s become invigorated in the last 10 years and we want to join the party.”
MIST will occupy the ground floor of the Kalahari, a 249-unit, African-themed condominium building at 40 W. 116th St. The center was part of the plans for the original condo, finished in 2007, but the recession stalled the construction. Now, with $21 million in financing – from a New Market Tax Credit deal, which helps businesses and real estate projects in low-income areas; the state; and equity loans from Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group and Prudential – the center is slated to open early next year.
It has created 140 construction jobs and, once done, 50 permanent jobs, 70 percent of which Laird vows will be filled by Harlem residents. In September, unemployment rates in New York City were 8.1 percent, 10.7 for Hispanics and 14.0 for blacks, according to the State Department of Labor.
“It’s about keeping the dollar in the community,” Laird said.
Hope Knight, chief operating officer of Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone, said: “Harlem experienced a big downturn in terms of tourism and visitors since the recession. But business has been improving continually since 2010.” MIST organizers expect the culture center to bolster Harlem’s recovering economy and growing appeal as a tourist destination.
“We want the community to benefit in tourism,” marketing consultant Taneshia Laird said of MIST. “We want it to be Harlem’s living room.”
Residents of the Kalahari building agreed. “It’s about bridging the gap,” said Reynaldo Forbes. “You can’t have a community unless you cater to everyone, not just the privileged. A cultural center could do it, if they do it right.”
For Derygou, it will be welcome nostalgia. Usually too busy with work for recreation, he said an African culture center would lure him out. “Just to bring back those memories of home,” he said.