AACC.
Fostering Cultural Awareness in the Arts.
The African American Cultural Committee (AACC) of the Montclair Art Museum (MAM) is a group of dedicated artists, community leaders and individuals who share a commitment to preserve and maintain the legacy of artists of the African Diaspora. Founded in the early 1980s by artists Benjamin F. Jones and Janet Taylor Pickett, and author Valerie Wilson Wesley, the AACC supports MAM by fostering community engagement through various outreach programs, events, scholarship fundraising and mentorship.
The committee’s key initiatives include the Ben F. Jones Scholarship Fund, created in 2022, to provide transformative experiences for high school students and young adults, allowing them the ability to partake in art education and experiences designed for aspiring artists. The AACC also serves as a bridge between MAM and various communities by hosting events such as Art Meets Jazz, which presented its 8th annual concert in March 2026. Originally created by AACC member Lonnie Brandon, the annual Film Forum has showcased films by and about African American creatives for over 18 years.
As part of its advisory role, the AACC has created awareness of local and international artists, by hosting arts and cultural excursions to Paris, Cuba, and London.
The group has also toured The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Yale University Art Gallery, and Smithsonian Museum of African Art, and has met with several well-known artists including Barkeley Hendricks, Sam Gilliam, Jack Whitten, Richard Mayew, Chakaia Booker, Sanford Biggers, and Ayana V. Jackson.
The AACC will continue to forge meaningful connections with MAM and the community and seek members who share its vision of supporting diverse artistry.