Arts & Culture

The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce and its active Arts & Culture Committee have a special bond with key artistic and cultural organizations throughout the Tri-state region, and beyond. For the past 50 years, The Chamber has strongly supported Harlem’s and the region’s cultural organizations.  Historically, Harlem’s arts and culture serve as a leading barometer for education, civic engagement, politics, and recreation, locally, nationally, and internationally.  The Chamber Arts and Culture Committee has formed a strong partnership with the Harlem Arts Alliance (HAA). HAA serves as a positive regional benchmark for arts and culture organizations.

 

This important collaboration has brought about the annual creation and presentation of multiple events and activities promoting the enormous contributions made by our many partner arts and cultural organizations, artists, and related professionals to improve the quality of life.

 

During Black History Month (February), Black Music Month (June), HARLEM WEEK (August), and NYC Marathon Week (November), The Chamber’s Arts and Culture Committee partners with the Museum of the CIty of New York, New York Historical Society, Harlem Arts Alliance, Jazzmobile, National Jazz Museum in Harlem, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Arts Advocacy Month (October), and New York Road Runners to promote the vast array of cultural events that represent the African Diaspora. The Chamber’s Arts & Culture Committee, in concert with the HARLEM WEEK Board of Directors, annually recognizes, showcases and honors great musicians and entertainers during HARLEM WEEK.

 

Previous performers and honorees include:  

• Louis Armstrong        

• Ashford & Simpson

• Ray Baretto

• Jonathan Batiste

• Harry Belafonte 

• Tony Bennett 

• Beyoncé

• Chadwick Boseman

• James Brown

• Jerry Butler

• Cab Calloway

• Shirley Caesar

• Ray Charles

• Ray Chew

• Jimmy Cliff

• Ornette Coleman

• Quincy Jones 

• Junior Walker & The All-Stars

• Eddie Kendricks

• Alicia Keys

• Chaka Khan

• Ben E. King

• Regina King

• Gladys Knight 

• Lenny Kravitz

• Patti LaBelle

• Queen Latifah

• Spike Lee

• Little Anthony & The Imperials

• Jon Lucien

• Audra McDonald

• The Main Ingredient

• Bob Marley

• Johnny Mathis

• Curtis Mayfield

• Stephanie Mills

• Lord Nelson

• The Ohio Players

• The O’Jays

• The Temptations

• Cicely Tyson

• Dave Valentin

• Luther Vandross

• Hezekiah Walker 

• Mary Wilson

• Nancy Wilson

• Stevie Wonder