Partners in the Legacy of Black Art & Archives

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Who We Are

The Friends of ART | library deco is a TX-nonprofit, formed to champion the mission of ART | library deco—an innovative, Texas-based digital library dedicated to the curation, preservation, and celebration of African American cultural materials. We serve as the institution’s committed support system, mobilizing resources, partnerships, and people in support of its expanding impact.

Our Purpose

Founded in alignment with the growth of ART | library deco and the development of its first physical space in Fort Worth, Texas, the Friends of ART | library deco exists to:

• Fundraise: Secure financial support through memberships, grants, sponsorships, and events
  
• Advocate: Promote awareness of ART | library deco’s mission and cultural contributions
  
• Engage: Build a diverse, inclusive network of volunteers and partners passionate about Black art, archives, and scholarship
  
• Sustain: Provide strategic backing for the long-term success of ART | library deco’s programs and physical expansion

Our Vision

We envision a world where African American stories, scholarship, and artistic expressions are actively preserved, widely accessible, and deeply celebrated. Through our efforts, we help fuel a cultural institution that is not only documenting Black history—but shaping it.

What We Support

Our partnership with ART | library deco enables us to amplify its signature initiatives:

• The Texas African American Community Archives Project
  
• In-House Repository of African American Archives & Books Preserved by the library
  
• The Forthcoming Fort Worth Creative Hub (The Library’s physical space)
  

Get Involved | Visit Us Online

Friends of ART | library deco invites individuals, organizations, and institutions to join our growing community. Whether you’re a donor, volunteer, educator, artist, or cultural advocate—there’s a place for you in our movement.

“We’re building a foundation not just for a library, but for a movement—a place where Black voices are preserved, celebrated, and empowered,” said the founding board.

Whether you’re a funder seeking to support innovative cultural work or a community member looking to get involved, The Friends of ART | library deco invites you to be part of this growing legacy.

Preserve the Culture. Power the Vision. Be a Friend.

Your donation helps ART | library deco to:

• Apply for and obtain 501(c)(3) nonprofit status by December 31, 2025
• Expand the digital library and art gallery
• Strengthen and diversify the digital collection
• Cover monthly and annual costs for the digital library platform, as well as ongoing monthly expenses for secure physical storage of the growing archive and future physical space
• Build a lasting home for African American art, culture, and education

What you receive as an investor includes:

• Friends of Art Library Deco membership card
• Art Library Deco Digital Library card, with all subscription perks
• Invitations to Virtual Quarterly Meetings
• The option to join the virtual Art Library Advisory Council

Join us in preserving culture and creating impact—new members can set up one-time, monthly, or annual donations now through May 2026. Your support helps power both the digital archive and our future physical space.

Help us write the next chapter. Support. Share. Become a Friend of the Library.

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