A pillar of the DTE Energy Foundation’s giving is Arts & Culture. Through this work, the Foundation helps to create vibrant, diverse communities by focusing on artistic works that reflect the voices of the community and address racial equity and justice through arts education, public engagement works, cultural institutions and more.
The DTE Foundation has been supporting and partnering with the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) since 1987, helping to bring new art exhibitions to Detroit for residents and visitors from all over to learn about and enjoy.
In February, the DIA launched its exhibit, Regeneration: Black Cinema 1898 – 1971, which was sponsored by the DTE Foundation. The landmark exhibition explores the profoundly influential, yet often overlooked history and impact of Blacks in American film from cinema’s infancy, as the Hollywood industry matured and through the years following the Civil Rights Movement.
“This critically important presentation chronicles much of what we know on-screen but shares so much more of what happened off-screen,” said Elliot Wilhelm, curator of film, Detroit Institute of Arts. “Our community will learn how each generation of these pioneering actors and filmmakers paved the way for the following generation to succeed and how they served as symbols and advocates for social justice in and beyond Hollywood. The museum’s beautiful Detroit Film Theatre will help further share this history with a wide-ranging film series that ties together the exhibition and Detroit’s cinema history.”
The exhibition, originally organized by the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, also includes a new, unique film series in partnership with the Detroit Film Theatre, presented free of charge to all visitors.
“The DTE Foundation has had a long partnership with the Detroit Institute of Arts to support exhibitions like Regeneration, which is nothing less than compelling,” said Rodney Cole, president, DTE Foundation. “The DIA’s mission to shine a light on revolutionary work that changes how we look at the world today is why they’re such a valued partner.”
The DIA Exhibition Regeneration: Black Cinema 1898 – 1971 is available for viewing at the DIA until June 23, 2024. Admission to the exhibition is included with museum admission, which is always free for residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.
To learn more, visit:
https://dia.org/events/exhibitions/regeneration
https://dia.org/events?series=Detroit%20Film%20Theatre
