Cape May Winter Exhibit opens Jan. 21

Written by Staff Reports Saturday, December 22, 2012 05:35 pm

For generations, organizations such as Cape May Chapter #156 of the Order of the Eastern Star of New Jersey, shown here, have enhanced the lives of African Americans in the Cape May region.

 Exhibit explores black civic organizations in Cape May County

CAPE MAY – The county’s African American heritage will be explored during the free exhibit “Celebrating Community Service: Black Fraternal, Social and Civic Organizations of Cape May County” at 4 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 21 at the Carriage House Gallery at the Physick Estate, 1048 Washington Street.

The exhibit will explore the significance of black fraternal, social and civic organizations in African American social life. It is co-sponsored by the Center for Community Arts (CCA) and the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC).

Because the African American community is often ignored by mainstream organizations, the GEMS, Masons, Eastern Stars and the Black USO - to name a few - have emerged with the sole purpose of enhancing the lives of African Americans.

Hundreds of these organizations exist nationwide with local chapters in cities and towns. The focus of this exhibit will be the black organizations of Cape May County.

The Center for Community Arts is a multicultural educational non-profit organization whose arts and humanities programs foster creativity, community building, and appreciation for the rich diversity of our world. The Center's Community History Program is dedicated to preserving, interpreting and celebrating Cape May's African American heritage through exhibits, tours, and its John and Janet Nash African American History Archive.

The Center is currently rehabilitating the Franklin Street School, a Cape May African American Historic Site, to house a community cultural center, runs youth arts programs and operates WCFA-LP 101.5 FM, a community radio station.

For more information, call 884-7525 or access CCA's web site at www.CenterforCommunityArts.org.

MAC is a not-for-profit organization committed to promoting the preservation, interpretation, and cultural enrichment of the Cape May region for its residents and visitors. MAC membership is open to all.

For information about MAC's year-round schedule of tours, festivals, and special events, call 884-5404 or 800-275-4278, or visit www.capemaymac.org