Programs

The Museum’s treasured objects reflect traditional societies from Morocco to South Africa and from Senegal to Somalia. The Museum offers also a range of experiences to include in-museum and outreach events with video presentations.

AAMM offers to the public a multi-faceted educational and pleasurable list of activities to include:

  • The African Experience Tour (AET) – a participatory experience, using hands-on art objects, videos, demonstrations, including questions/answer opportunities throughout the presentation. Vocabulary used is dependent on the maturity level of the audience and their level of interaction with the African continent. It can include an “Art Hunt” and varied themes. The AET is offered in-museum and as an Outreach Activity, and is adaptable for all age and special needs groups.
  • Tours to African Nations – Trips to Africa. Past trips include repeated visits to Senegal, the Gambia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, South Africa & Zimbabwe. Trips are first offered to Life and annual members and then offered to the General Public. 
  • “The House of JAZZ” – In celebration and to aid in the perpetuation of America’s music JAZZ, AAMM’s innovation; “The House of JAZZ”, serves also to remind all that JAZZ has its roots in the traditional music of Africa; it is also designed to serve as a fundraising effort for the museum. Respect for AAMM’s JAZZ Aficionado, Claude Ligon, the House of JAZZ was re-named The Claude Ligon House of JAZZ in 2005, the year of his passing.
  • Sponsored Visits – AAMM Sponsors visits to schools by members of the African Diplomatic Corps: Ambassadors and their country representative(s).
  • Teacher’s Workshops – Demonstrating for possible use in their classroom setting, The AET or a more participatory activity of creating an art piece: an adinkra cloth, which requires applying symbolic stamps to cloth.
  • Passport to African Art & Culture – Visits to African Embassies for youth and families. A “passport” was created for this activity.
  • Diplomatic Corps Receptions – Receptions for members of the Diplomatic Corps is an opportunity to meet socially with Ambassadors or their country’s representative(s).
  • Doing Business in Africa -The Institute of African Commerce & Culture (IACC) bringing together business persons from various African nations and American counterparts.
  • Anniversary Celebrations – Observing the completion of an additional year of the Museum’s service to the public.
  • Member Appreciation Day  – Recognition of members of AAMM-Lifetime & Annual.
  • Grandparents Day – Celebrating generations of family interests.
  • African Art In World Languages
  • The Literary Art Circle of AAMM
  • Community Service Hours – Students can earn their community service hours by volunteering at AAMM
  • AAMM Partnerships – AAMM has partnerships with Howard County Public System, Howard Community College, and is a member of the American Alliance of Museums.
  • Ruth Fisher Rhetts Lecture Series – Mrs. Rhetts gave to the AAMM its first gift of stock. She was the wife of President John F. Kennedy’s first appointed Ambassador to Liberia, where she shared she “spent some of the happiest years of my life.” AAMM names its first lecture series in her honor in appreciation of her gift.