The Museum of the City of New York (MCNY) in East Harlem will open the Puffin Foundation Center for Social Activism this fall, replacing its existing Puffin Foundation Gallery. The expanded center, funded by an $8 million donation from the Puffin Foundation, will feature a new version of the permanent exhibition "Activist New York," along with temporary shows, public programs, and an annual fellowship. The inaugural temporary exhibition, "Halumii Ktapihna: Lenape Legacies and Future," marks the 400th anniversary of Manhattan's purchase from Indigenous peoples.
This expansion comes at a politically charged moment when museums face pressure to avoid associations with "woke" agendas amid threats of losing federal funding under the Trump administration. By doubling down on social activism and underrepresented histories, MCNY positions itself as a counterweight to political censorship, reinforcing the role of cultural institutions in documenting and promoting civic engagement and social justice.