Cultural Center's Mission Includes Contemporary Native American Art, Director Says

By William Crum Staff Writer wcrum@oklahoman.comThe American Indian Cultural Center and Museum has received nearly $15.3 million in private and tribal donations, a major milestone toward its goal of raising $40 million. Combining receipts so far with the $9 million pledged by the city of Oklahoma City, the Indian Cultural Center is about 60 percent of the way toward its goal. The state of Oklahoma has committed $25 million in matching funds, for a total of $65 million to complete construction of the long-delayed museum on the Oklahoma River. Blake Wade, executive director of the Native American Cultural & Educational Authority, which oversees the museum, said $12.5 million had been deposited with the state. That is sufficient to trigger bond sales for the state's matching funds. The authority's board, which meets quarterly, voted Thursday to authorize Wade and board officers to make decisions necessary to resume construction quickly. The exterior of the 160,000-square-foot museum was substantially complete when the state Legislature failed in 2012 to authorize further expenditures. Hopes are to resume construction this fall and open the museum within three years. The 2015 Legislature established a framework for completing and opening the museum under terms of agreements between the state of Oklahoma and the city of Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City subsequently agreed with the Chickasaw Nation to work out a deal to complete, open and operate the museum, and to develop surrounding property. The agreements among state, city and tribe could be finalized next month. James Pepper Henry, a Kaw tribal member and distinguished museum executive, has been selected as the Indian Cultural Center's first director. Pepper Henry was introduced to the board Thursday. Pepper Henry helped 10 years ago to craft an alliance between the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., and the Indian Cultural Center in Oklahoma City. Under the agreement, the National Museum, a component of the Smithsonian Institution, will loan to the Cultural Center artifacts from its collections representing Oklahoma's 39 tribes. The Cultural Center is part of a consortium that includes American Indian art museums in Los Angeles, Phoenix and Indianapolis, and the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, Pepper Henry said in an interview Thursday with The Oklahoman. He envisions the Oklahoma City museum working with others in the consortium to develop exhibits that could travel among those museums and beyond, to other institutions. Pepper Henry said the center has a mission to acknowledge contemporary native artists in addition to documenting the historical period since tribes' first contacts with Europeans. "And so I see not only putting together exhibitions of historical material but also contemporary art exhibitions, especially with our very talented Oklahoma Native American artists," he said. Pepper Henry led the Gilcrease Museum the past two years as executive director.Read more on NewsOK.com