Our harlem Is . . . Music, Theater, and Dance exhibit is a community learning project that grew from one classroom in Harlem to a renowned multimedia, living history exhibition. This exhibition now at Harlem Hospital is the culmination of a 23-year journey of exploring the people, the culture, the art, and the activism that define this spectacular Harlem community.

Community Works and New Heritage Theatre Group have toured this award-winning multi-part series of exhibitions citywide to more than 30 locations from the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture to Federal Hall National Memorial. More than 3 million people have viewed the exhibitions created with young people working with more than 70 legendary figures in harlem to document their stories in their own neighborhood.

Now permanently at the historic Harlem Hospital Center, this exhibition has a home with an institution that also believes that art heals and communities matter.

The three-part harlem is. . . Music, Theater, and Dance series is in their beautiful gallery space outside the Herbert Cave Auditorium.

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Each component of the series illuminates a different aspect of Harlem’s character and culture over the century weaving together research, interviews, and creative writing by young people with archival and contemporary elements. 

Its harlem is. . . Theater section celebrates the rich legacy of the Harlem theater movement from the founding of the African Grove Theatre in 1821 to the present and its legacy keepers. The harlem is. . . Music explores Harlem's unrivaled musical traditions from gospel to classical to jazz and hip honoring landmark institutions and current day legacy keepers. The harlem is. . .  Dance portion honors the contributions of four significant dance pioneers Marie Brooks, Ruth Williams, Dele Husbands, and Loretta Abbot.  

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An introductory video puts the exhibition into historical context.

On the lower level in the magnificent Mural Pavilion lives the exhibition’s 30-foot timeline featuring archival images, photography, and text honoring Harlem’s cultural history over the century, proudly alongside the historic and beautiful and renowned WPA murals.

The exhibition is dedicated to the memory of Community Works’ Board Chairman Michael Davidson.

It was designed by Whirlwind Creative and features contemporary photos by Ruth Morgan.