Los Angeles Sanitation and Environment’s (LASAN) Los Angeles Green Business Program (LAGBP) welcomes its first museum committed to a clean, green LA—the Museum of African American Art.
The 50-year-old nonprofit educates visitors of all backgrounds about the arts through the lens of African-American culture. The Museum of African American Art stands as a pioneer in representing African-American and Black contributions to the arts and sets an example of sustainable archival practices for other cultural spaces.
“When we earned our Los Angeles Green Business certification, we never imagined that the Museum of African American Art would be the first to participate in the program,” said Keasha Dumas Heath, Executive Director at MAAA. “As the Museum of African American Art celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, we appreciate being a part of a network that will help us identify and reach sustainability goals moving forward.”
The Museum of African American Art, which is located at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Mall—South LA’s cultural and commercial heartbeat for Black visual arts, and Black and African-American identity—continues to engage people within the community over its 50 years of service. The Museum of African American Art has always offered free admission to the public and believes that “sustainability and accessibility are closely aligned.” To the Museum of African American Art, joining the LAGBP is their leading by example “in implementing sustainable practices.”
The museum’s current exhibit space has been converted to LED lighting, which has dramatically lowered its electric bill. Other sustainable practices have included recycling cardboard used for packing artwork, donating frames after art conservation projects, offering recycling bins at all museum events, using green cleaning products, and using recycled bamboo paper towels and bathroom tissue.
These practices, in alignment with the LAGBP’s goals, allows the space to flourish as an environmentally sustainable art space in Los Angeles.
“The Museum of African American Art is an illustration of how museums across the City of Los Angeles can reduce waste and maintain an archive when environmental sustainability is important to their operations,” said Joone Kim-Lopez, Executive Director and General Manager of LASAN. “This is simply the beginning of a flourishing partnership that will create space for art museums in Los Angeles to thrive for years to come.”
The LAGBP assists businesses, nonprofits, organizations, and eco leaders across the City of Los Angeles with accessing resources to sustain their businesses while providing the tools to reduce costs. Its programming is designed to meet business leaders where they are through in-person events that match needs to resources, creating a cleaner, greener LA.
To learn more about the LA Green Business Program and consider how you can play your part in eco-conscious leadership, visit our Green Business Program page.