STATE OF TEXAS COMMITS $10M TO NATIONAL JUNETEENTH MUSEUM AS IT LAUNCHES FIRST EXHIBITION

The National Juneteenth Museum in Fort Worth, TX has secured a $10 million allocation from the Texas Legislature, marking a significant milestone in the project’s development. This bipartisan funding would bring the museum’s fundraising total to $50 million – over two-thirds of its $70 million goal. The state contribution marks the second-biggest pledge the museum has received, following the city of Fort Worth’s $15 million commitment earlier this year. This funding comes as the National Juneteenth Museum opens its first offsite exhibition, Declarations of Freedom. Curated by Lauren Cross and Christopher Blay, the show explores the “ever-continuing process of freedom” through a dynamic blend of historical artifacts, archival photographs, and contemporary artworks. Highlights include images from Juneteenth celebrations in the 1970s and ’80s, displayed alongside works by North Texas artists such as Vicki Meek, Spencer Evans, Sedrick Huckaby, and Letitia Huckaby. The exhibition is on view at Fort Works Art through July 19, 2025. Located in the Historic Southside of Fort Worth, the National Juneteenth Museum will be the epicenter for the education, preservation, and celebration of Juneteenth nationally and globally – hosting exhibitions, discussions, and events about the significance of African American freedom. The new 76,000-sq-ft building, designed in close collaboration with the local Fort Worth community, seeks to provide a cultural and economic anchor for the neighborhood and act as a catalyst for ensuring its future vitality, including immersive galleries, a business incubator, a food hall for local vendors, a Black Box flex space, and a theater.