National Museum of African American History & Culture – In Slavery's Wake

The museum & the collection

The National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), a Smithsonian Institution on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., is dedicated to chronicling the profound history, culture, and contributions of African Americans. Since its opening in 2016, the museum has served as a vital space for storytelling, education, and reflection. Designed by architect David Adjaye alongside the Freelon Group and Davis Brody Bond, its distinctive structure—rooted in African artistic heritage—houses a vast collection that spans the complexities of African American history, from slavery and the Civil Rights Movement to contemporary culture and art.

To further its mission and expand accessibility, NMAAHC curates traveling exhibitions that bring these narratives to new audiences worldwide. One such exhibition, In Slavery’s Wake: Making Black Freedom in the World, is a decade-long collaboration between the NMAAHC, Brown University, and eight museums across four continents. The exhibition examines the legacies of slavery and colonialism through historical artifacts, multimedia installations, and contemporary artwork. Opening in Washington, D.C., in December 2024, the exhibition will tour South America, Africa, and Europe over the next five years, inviting visitors to engage in global conversations on freedom-making practices and resistance.

The assignment & the challenges

Meyvaert was entrusted with designing and producing high-quality display cases that met the specific demands of this traveling exhibition. The cases needed to adhere to stringent Smithsonian conservation standards while being robust enough to endure multiple installations and dismantlings across six venues. Additionally, modularity was essential to ensure adaptability to different spatial configurations. Due to high lender requirements, the cases had to provide superior protection for a variety of fragile, heavy, and uniquely shaped objects.

The solutions & the result

To meet the technical challenges, Meyvaert developed a comprehensive suite of modular, conservation-grade showcases that seamlessly balanced durability, adaptability, and security. The design prioritized ease of assembly and dismantling, allowing for swift transitions between venues without compromising conservation requirements. The cases featured a flexible system for graphics adaptation, ensuring that language updates could be executed efficiently at each location.

To address the transportation constraints, we engineered custom-designed crates to protect the cases in both assembled and disassembled states. These solutions streamlined the logistics of moving delicate objects across continents while safeguarding their integrity throughout the exhibition’s journey.

The proactive coordination between Meyvaert, NMAAHC, and the broader project team ensured that the cases arrived on schedule, meeting the exhibition’s planned opening. The final installation in Washington, D.C., achieved impeccable alignment with adjacent exhibition furniture, demonstrating precision in both design and execution.

With In Slavery’s Wake now set to engage global audiences, Meyvaert’s showcase solutions provide a lasting foundation for presenting, preserving, and protecting these critical historical narratives.

© Cosmin Tudose