Las Vegas City Council Approves Contract To Develop African American Museum and Cultural Center In Historic Westside

Vegas Business Digest -

This week, the Las Vegas City Council approved a contract with Gallagher & Associates, LLC. to develop a master plan for an African American museum and culture center in the Historic Westside. Gallagher & Associates, which developed the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C., The Mob Museum in Las Vegas, the National World War II Museum and the National Museum of African American Music, among others, was selected from a competitive process. The team will work with FordMomentum! on community engagement, as well as Barber & Associates, LLC., led by Anna Barber, on a fundraising strategy.

The development of a cultural campus celebrating the contributions of African American to the Historic Westside was part of the HUNDRED Plan and the HUNDRED Plan in Action.

The HUNDRED (Historic Urban Neighborhood Design Redevelopment) Plan – a visionary, community-led approach to revitalizing the Historic Westside – was completed in 2016 with guidance from the community. The HUNDRED Plan in Action, completed in 2020, established a clear implementation strategy for the HUNDRED Plan.

To engage the community in the museum development and design process, the City held multiple workshop and discussions with community stakeholders.

In December 2020, a workshop was held with approximately 40 participants. In August/September 2021, a community survey, one-on-one stakeholder interviews and open public community workshop was held with over 400 members.

Some initial work and engagement has occurred with the community to begin to determine their desires as it relates to a future museum and cultural arts center. In December 2020, a community stakeholder and subject matter expert workshop was held with approximately 40 participants to understand the process for museum development and begin to identify the museum experience. In August/September 2021, a community survey, one-on-one stakeholder interviews and open public community workshop collectively engaging over 400 members of the community, were held to better understand priorities for this museum.

The specific scope of services for the master plan, building on this previous work, includes:

  • An analysis of the arts and culture environment
  • Community and Stakeholder Engagement
  • Content Strategy for the Museum
  • Establishment of a vision for the arts center and how it will integrate into the museum
  • Operational and Financial Plan
  • Fundraising Strategy
  • Implementation Approach

A final plan will be presented next year.