Bethany Arts Community (BAC) announced its 6th annual Black History & Culture exhibition, titled “Black History & Culture: Revolutionary Legacies.” The exhibition is curated by Ossining Village Historian, Joyce Sharrock-Cole.
In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, Bethany Arts Community’s 6th Annual Award-winning Black History & Culture Exhibit: Revolutionary Legacies. explores how African Americans have defined, and redefined freedom from 1776 to today. Each gallery is rooted in a line from the Declaration of Independence, showing how Black people have continually challenged the nation to live up to its founding ideals.
Through art, artifacts, photography, storytelling, and interactive installations, this exhibit honors the spirit of revolution, resilience, and representation that continues to shape our culture. From the battlefield to the way we dressed to command dignity, from innovation to influence, Black Americans have been, and remain, the true trendsetters of freedom and style.
This exhibit anchors Bethany Arts Community’s Black History Month programming and serves as both a historical and contemporary reflection, using art, primary sources, and storytelling to foster understanding, dialogue, and connection across our community. It invites visitors to engage with history not as something distant, but as something that continues to inform who we are and how we move forward together.
“This year’s exhibit intentionally centers the presence, contributions, and lived experiences of Black people from the very founding of the country through the generations that followed. Revolutionary Legacies challenges visitors to broaden the traditional narrative of the Revolution by recognizing that Black Americans were not only present from the beginning, but integral to the building, defense, and ongoing shaping of this nation,” Joyce Sharrock Cole, Exhibit Curator and Ossining Village Historian.
The 6th installment of this award-winning exhibit at Bethany Arts Community will run from January 31 – March 6, 2026. The Opening Reception will be Friday January 30, 7-9pm, open to all. Gallery Hours begin on January 31 and are Monday – Saturday 10am-4pm, as well as 30 minutes before other scheduled weeknight and weekend events at Bethany Arts Community. Note the Exhibit will close at 3pm on March 6. The exhibit is closed on Sundays.
Programming throughout the month will include an opening reception, a culinary and storytelling event, a narrated stage drama, guided tours, school and community tours, and a living museum with local actors.
A programming highlight is “Soulful Flavors: A Black Diaspora Culinary Journey” hosted by exhibit curator, Joyce Sharrock Cole, and Neeks Catering with Chef Babatunde Cole. This unforgettable program takes you from the bold, vibrant flavors of Sierra Leone in Africa to the comforting dishes of American soul food, exploring the diverse foods of the African diaspora along the way. Through curated tastings and storytelling, attendees will celebrate the deep cultural connections and resilience reflected in these cuisines. Soulful Flavors will take place on Saturday February 7, from 7-9pm at Bethany Arts Community. Purchase tickets here.
A Narrated Stage Drama “They Call Me Dimmock” will premiere February 20-21 & 27-28 as part of BAC’s Black History & Culture programming. All performances are at 7pm. This true story follows Dimmock, a self-emancipated man who hunts for his kidnapped granddaughter, secretly hidden in Ossining, and confronts power, law, and the true cost of freedom, with John Jay as his ally. Written, developed and narrated by Joyce Sharrock Cole. Directed by Mel Hancock. Performed by Keith Bulluck, Jason Summers, Naomi Onativia, Joanna Stone, Suzanne Duke, Daniel Hirsh, and Howard Weintraub. Production Assistant is Donna James.
This exhibit welcomed 500 visitors in 2021 and increased to 5,400 total visitors in 2025. From 2021-2025, school partnerships increased from one district to five including Ossining, Tarrytown/Sleepy hollow, Briarcliff, Pocantico Hills, and Chappaqua, with increased partnerships this year.
Bethany Arts Community has continued to expand their Docent program to include students from the Ossining Union Free School District (OUFSD) in grades 5-12, as well as adult volunteers in the local community. Docents guide students and community members through the exhibit. The Docent program is designed to offer students and adults an exciting and engaging experience that stimulates learning, understanding, and compassion for others lived experiences. This program supports Bethany Arts Community’s mission to foster the intersection of ideas, sharing, connection, and collaboration, in an inclusive culture where people experience the power of art to improve lives and deepen their perceptions and perspectives of the world.
If you are interested in scheduling a school tour, and/or learning more about our Docent Program, please reach out to Julia, BAC’s Community Engagement & Outreach Coordinator, at julias@bethanyarts.org.
Bethany Arts Community continues its longtime collaboration this year with Claremont School in Ossining to include student voices in the exhibit. Under the theme ““My Declaration of Who I Am” students are creating mixed media artwork expressing “who am I?” and “how do I show my independence to the world?” The artwork will be displayed for the duration of the exhibit.
Walk & Talk tours led by curator Joyce Sharrock Cole are scheduled for Wednesday February 4 and Wednesday February 18 from 7-8:30pm. Walk & Talk tours $20 Student/Senior and $25 General Admission. To inquire about booking a private group tour of the exhibit (for 8+ people), email julias@bethanyarts.org.
Black History & Culture: Revolutionary Legacies is made possible with support from ArtsWestchester and the Westchester County Government, and Revolutionary Westchester 250. Exhibit partners include Historic Hudson Valley, Ossining High School, Claremont School and volunteer docents.
Bethany Arts Community seeks additional sponsorships to continue the success of this engaging exhibition of Black History and Culture. Sponsorships help bring these stories to life through immersive gallery design, multimedia storytelling, educational programs, and community engagement. Together, we can ensure that as America celebrates 250 years of independence, we honor those who have continually expanded its meaning, transforming revolution into legacy. Sponsors will have their brands prominently displayed in conjunction with the exhibit. BAC is a non-profit organization serving the lower Hudson Valley of New York State and beyond. All contributions are tax-deductible. Sponsorships will be taken on a rolling basis. To inquire about sponsoring Black History & Culture 2026, contact BAC’s Development Director, Nancy Zallo, at nancyz@bethanyarts.org.
