{"id":4759,"title":"The International Agency for Minority Artist Affairs - A Brief History","kind":"biblio","url":"https://www.videohistoryproject.org/international-agency-minority-artist-affairs-brief-history","version":"c4141f64ecfbc56b429d66f0ec76897588fb6c32d77f95fb350b32ad1d82fd89","modified":"2026-09-13T21:52:08.1983118+00:00","credits":[{"role":"Corporate Author","name":"IAMAA (staff)"}],"authorKeys":["IAMAA (staff)"],"subjects":["Groups"],"metadata":[{"label":"Contributors","value":"IAMAA (staff)","url":null},{"label":"Group dates","value":"1978 - present","url":null},{"label":"Group location","value":"New York City","url":null},{"label":"Group","value":"The International Agency for Minority Artist Affairs","url":null}],"citations":{"page":"\u0022The International Agency for Minority Artist Affairs - A Brief History.\u0022 Video History Project, Experimental Television Center, 2026. https://www.videohistoryproject.org/international-agency-minority-artist-affairs-brief-history.","publication":"IAMAA (staff). The International Agency for Minority Artist Affairs - A Brief History. .","risUrl":"https://www.videohistoryproject.org/citation/4759.ris"},"links":[{"label":"International Agency for Minority Artist Affairs","url":"http://www.aboutharlemarts.org/","relationship":"record body link","contentType":null}],"sections":[{"name":"body","source":"VHP record body","generated":false,"characters":4059},{"name":"summary","source":"existing VHP generated summary","generated":true,"characters":491}],"content":{"section":"body","source":"VHP record body","generated":false,"text":"International Agency for Minority Artist Affairs H I S T O R Y The International Agency for Minority Artist Affairs, Inc. (IAMAA) was established in 1978 as a community-based arts service organization by Gregory Javan Mills, while a senior at the School of Visual Arts (SVA). Other founding Board Members included: Queen Mother Moore, Flo Kennedy, Percy E. Sutton, Lionel Hampton, Alma John, Juan Cash, Jerry Evans and Ernest Steele. IAMAA is a New York State domestic non-for-profit organization, approved by the NYS Attorney General\u0027s Office of Charity Registration and has 501(c)(3) tax exemption status with the IRS. This 22-year old nonprofit organization was designated as the Harlem Art Council in 1996. S T R E N G T H S Our key organizational strengths have been our ability to plan and deliver key arts and cultural informational and training programs that assist and enhance the knowledge, skills, and access to our clients and patrons. We have been instrumental in Harlem/Upper Manhattan in helping to bring an increasing awareness of art appreciation and the business aspects of the arts industry to local organizations and individual artists by planning insightful programs that educate about current and important issues that impact art and cultural programs and services within our greater community. M E M B E R S H I P S As an important component of keeping current and knowledgeable about arts and cultural issues and opportunities taking place with this city and state, as well as, around the country, IAMAA is an Associate Member of the Foundation Center and the Harlem Local Affiliate of the New York Council on the Humanities. We also hold membership in the New York State Alliance of Art Organizations and the New York City Coalition of Art Groups. IAMAA is not only a dues paying member, but it actively participates on program panels and is often requested to make presentations about issues and challenges facing small community-based arts/cultural organizations and individual artists. H I G H L I G H T S: We are an award winning organization and have been cited in the U.S. Congressional Record. IAMAA has formed over ten (10) committees, which eventually established working non-profit organizations over the years. For example, IAMAA established the Harlem Environmental Impact Project in the late 1980s because of the hazards artist faced with toxic materials to create works. In 1996, the IAMAA Board of Directors voted to separately incorporate the Harlem Environmental Impact Project ( HEIP ) and, it is now a 501(c)(3) tax exempt independent organization. HEIP has been funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, foundations and corporations and is still providing vital services to this community. From 1994 to the present, the IAMAA has given over 30 personal computer systems (units and printers) to community-based organizations, Harlem schools and students. The John D. \u0026 Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation selected the IAMAA for two grants in 1995 and 1996 for ourtstanding services and, with that funding we established the Harlem Media Center. Since 1997, the IAMAA has been an official hi-tech training facility with our Harlem Media Center for Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN) to teach FREE public access TV production to Harlem/Upper Manhattan residents. We have also given over 10 video cameras to our trainee students during this time frame. In October 1998, IAMAA held a successful fundraiser at Lincoln Center to present the Lionel Hampton Legacy Awards to over 17 top professionals in entertainment, civics and community leadership. In 1998 and 1999, IAMAA was selected by the New York State Black \u0026 Hispanic Legislative Caucus to plan the Arts Hearings at their annual Albany weekend conferences. In 1999, IAMAA purchased two (2) buses to increase cultural tourism and audience development in Harlem/Upper Manhattan. In 2001, IAMAA was selected by ABC TV Entertainment Group as a screening organization for the selection of grantees for their $20,000 diversity grant program in the media arts.","offset":0,"nextOffset":null,"totalCharacters":4059,"complete":true},"rightsUrl":"https://www.videohistoryproject.org/terms-service"}