Beyoncé Celebrates Birthday By Donating $2 Million to the Studio Museum in Harlem
The global pop star and art collector said she has discovered some of her favorite Black artists through the institution’s dynamic programming
While Beyoncé’s birthday celebrations included a concert serenade in London from her husband Jay-Z, an evening at the exclusive private members’ club Harry’s Bar in Mayfair, and a release of remastered music, the global icon also chose to step into her 45th year with a $2 million donation to the Studio Museum in Harlem.
A longtime supporter of the arts and a powerful collector, the music superstar said she has discovered some of her favorite Black artists through the museum’s programming. The Studio Museum was founded in 1968 and is considered the nexus for artists of African descent locally and internationally, which is a cause close to Beyoncé’s heart.
“Art tells all our stories; the past and the present, but is not always accessible to everyone,” she said. “I have always been impressed with the Studio Museum in Harlem because of its intention to make the museum an integral part of the community.”
Thelma Golden, director of the Ford Foundation and the museum’s chief curator, said the donation will support the Studio Museum’s efforts to “shift the arts landscape and reimagine who that landscape serves.” This past fall, the museum unveiled its renovated building after a seven-year transformation of its longtime home undertaken by Adjaye Associates with Cooper Robertson as executive architect, which doubled the amount of space for exhibitions and visitor areas. Golden raised more than $300 million to make the long-awaited project a reality.