A $12 million donation from Oprah Winfrey to the Smithsonian Institution continues to support public discussions about African American history and culture in the nation’s capital. The Smithsonian Institution announced the donation in June 2013. The money supported fundraising for the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Along with an earlier gift of $1 million made in 2007, Winfrey’s total contribution reached $13 million. This made her the largest individual donor to the museum during its development. To recognize her support, the Smithsonian named the building’s 350-seat performance space the Oprah Winfrey Theater. Located below ground, the theater hosts live performances, academic talks, film screenings and public debates in Washington, DC.
A landmark contribution to building costs
Winfrey joined the museum’s advisory council in 2004. She worked with civic leaders, legal experts and cultural figures to help guide the institution’s planning and development. Her $12 million pledge in 2013 gave an important boost to a $500 million fundraising campaign. Half of the money was expected to come from federal funding approved by Congress, while the other half would come from private donations.When the donation was announced, Winfrey spoke about her commitment to preserving Black history for future generations.“I am so proud of African American history and its contributions to our nation as a whole,” Winfrey stated in an official Smithsonian Institution press release. “I am deeply appreciative of those who paved the path for me and all who follow in their footsteps. By investing in this museum, I want to help ensure that we both honor and preserve our culture and history, so that the stories of who we are will live on for generations to come.“Lonnie G. Bunch III, the museum’s founding director, spoke about the wider educational value of Winfrey’s donation.“We are inspired and profoundly grateful for Ms. Winfrey’s generosity at this important time,” Bunch said in the Smithsonian statement. “Her gifts will forever be associated with harnessing the power of art and creative expression to build bridges between cultures and enrich people’s lives. Programming at the Oprah Winfrey Theater will mirror the museum’s commitment to use African American history and culture as a lens to see what it means to be an American and to help all Americans remember.“Wayne Clough, who was Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution during the fundraising campaign, said Winfrey’s support matched the theater’s cultural purpose.“At its heart, the National Museum of African American History and Culture is a showcase for a richer, fuller picture of the American experience,” Clough said in the 2013 release. “The Oprah Winfrey Theater will bring untold stories alive through films, live performances, artistic expression and public dialogue.”
Architectural design and underground location
The National Museum of African American History and Culture officially began construction in February 2012 on a five-acre site next to the Washington Monument. The 400,000-square-foot building was designed by Freelon Adjaye Bond/SmithGroupJJR, a team made up of four leading design firms.According to design fact sheets released by the Smithsonian Institution, the architectural firm Davis Brody Bond was responsible for designing the Oprah Winfrey Theater and the nearby underground History Galleries. Building 60 per cent of the museum below ground created major engineering challenges during the four-year construction project.The Oprah Winfrey Theater is located on Concourse 0. This underground level also contains an atrium, a quiet court for reflection, a special exhibitions gallery and a dining area. Above ground, the museum’s main exterior feature is the “Corona”. This three-level structure takes inspiration from traditional Yoruba wooden columns from West Africa. It is covered with 3,600 bronze-coloured cast-aluminium panels.The theater opened to the public with the rest of the museum during an official dedication ceremony on 24 September 2016.
Ongoing public programming and cultural dialogue
The 350-seat theater remains one of the largest working spaces inside the museum. It regularly welcomes historians, filmmakers, authors, musicians and policy advocates for public discussions.Events held at the theater, including the “Historically Speaking” symposium series, explore topics such as building the museum’s collections, preserving historical records, civil rights history and modern cultural research. Through live presentations and digital broadcasts from the stage, the theater continues to serve its original purpose as a national platform for African American voices and perspectives.