What an amazing year it has been thus far for the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History. February 2026 was one of the busiest months that I can recall in my 22 years at the museum. We averaged nearly 75 visitors per Saturday for the month, with nearly 800 people coming to the museum for either a tour or to take part in one of our events. There was no drop-off in March as we continued to see excited and inquisitive visitors from all over coming to experience our museum. On April 8th, our Men on the Bag production was viewed by nearly 60 patrons, coming from as far away as Taiwan. What an exciting time it is to work at the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History.
But the great work that we are do can only continue with the support of our community. I thank all of the businesses, organizations and individuals that continue to support us. But I would like to speak not just to our tried and true supporters, but to potential, first-time donors. As most of you know by now, a good portion of our funding in the past came from a grant awarded to us by the city of Augusta. But in their short-sightedness, some of the commissioners and the mayor chose to cut the proverbial legs out from underneath many of the cultural and healthcare institutions in our city. We, the heartbeat of the Garden City deserve better. But as the Executive Director of the Laney Museum I am not going to wait around for the political winds to change.
Help me to be proactive in ensuring the financial stability of the museum by supporting us. This may be one of the most worthwhile investments you can make. Don’t take my word for it. Just pay a visit to one of our youth related programs: the annual quiz bowl, two summer camp sessions, and our summer sewing camps. Parents can’t wait to enroll their children and students in many instances stay with us from elementary school through high school graduation. We can continue to have these programs and more with your support!
Thank you again River Region for sticking by us and making it loud and clear that we are one of the crown jewels of the region. We will continue telling the stories of our community, creating public art that visually communicates the importance of our history, and spreading the good news about this marvelous city.
Corey Rogers, Executive Director
