The Hamptons Black Arts Council (HBAC), founded by curator Storm Ascher in 2023, is launching its most ambitious project to date: purchasing a home in Sag Harbor to establish a permanent artists' residency for creatives of color. The initiative will be funded through a three-day retreat and benefit luncheon honoring Nigerian-American artist Anthony Akinbola, hosted at the Watermill Center. Juneteenth weekend also marks the opening of HBAC's annual group exhibition, “IT IS WRITTEN in the sand,” at the Eastville Heritage House Museum, which inaugurates the museum's new contemporary art collection. Additional programming includes a private tour of Guild Hall's “Arcmanoro Niles: Forgotten Words I Never Got to Say” and a performance by dancer Lloyd Knight.
This effort matters because it reclaims and amplifies the legacy of Eastville, one of the oldest free Black settlements in the United States, whose heritage has faded over time. By creating a permanent residency and curating exhibitions that center Black artists, HBAC is ensuring that stories of Black cultural belonging on Long Island are not treated as new additions but as enduring presences. The project also highlights the growing role of community-driven arts organizations in preserving underrepresented histories and supporting artists of color in historically significant locations.