Report on the “Conserving Black Modernism” Initiative and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Aligning Cultural Preservation with Global Sustainability

A collaborative partnership between the Getty Foundation and the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund has launched the “Conserving Black Modernism” initiative. This program provides critical funding for the preservation of historic modern buildings designed by Black architects. The initiative directly addresses several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, by working to safeguard the world’s cultural heritage (Target 11.4). Furthermore, it makes significant contributions to SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities by elevating the legacy of underrepresented figures in American architecture. The partnership model itself exemplifies SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

Initiative Overview and Strategic Goals

The “Conserving Black Modernism” program aims to rectify the historical omission of Black architects from the narrative of the modern architectural movement. By funding preservation, documentation, and interpretation projects, the initiative ensures these cultural landmarks can continue to serve their communities and educate the public. This aligns with SDG 4: Quality Education by creating accessible historical resources and inspiring future generations.

Brent Leggs, executive director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, noted the severe disparity in the field: “Today, only two percent of registered architects in the United States identify as Black. The Conserving Black Modernism program is ensuring the historic contributions Black designers have made to this field are celebrated and can inspire current and future generations.” This statement underscores the initiative’s role in promoting equity and inclusive education (SDG 10, SDG 4).

Since 2022, the program has supported 21 buildings. The 2025 grants allocate $750,000 to each of five new sites, demonstrating a substantial investment in sustainable community development and cultural infrastructure.

2025 Grant Recipients: Case Studies in Sustainable Development

The 2025 grantees represent a diverse portfolio of projects, each contributing to the SDGs in unique ways. The funding supports preservation plans, structural assessments, and community engagement, which foster both decent work (SDG 8) and resilient community infrastructure (SDG 11).

1. Founder’s Church of Religious Science, Los Angeles, California

   • Architect: Paul R. Williams (1960)
   • Project Focus: The grant will support a new accessibility and interpretation plan.
   • SDG Alignment: This work directly promotes SDG 11 by making a community landmark more inclusive and accessible to all people. The interpretation plan contributes to SDG 4 by providing educational opportunities about Williams’s legacy.

2. First Church of Deliverance, Chicago, Illinois

   • Architect: Walter T. Bailey (1939)
   • Project Focus: The project involves the first comprehensive preservation and campus stewardship plan for the church, which is an innovative adaptive reuse of a former factory.
   • SDG Alignment: The focus on adaptive reuse is a key strategy for SDG 11, promoting sustainable land use and resource efficiency. The development of a stewardship plan ensures the long-term sustainability of this vital community asset.

3. Interdenominational Theological Center, Administration Building, Atlanta, Georgia

   • Architect: Edward C. Miller (1961)
   • Project Focus: Funding will support a Historic Structures Report, building assessments, a reuse study, and historical documentation of Miller’s career.
   • SDG Alignment: This project is foundational to achieving SDG 11.4 by creating the necessary technical and historical documentation for long-term preservation. It also supports SDG 4 by building a knowledge base for academic and public education.

4. McKenzie Hall, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon

   • Architect: DeNorval Unthank Jr. (1968)
   • Project Focus: The grant will fund a Preservation and Interpretation Plan to recognize Unthank’s contribution and guide future conservation.
   • SDG Alignment: Situated on a university campus, this project is a direct investment in SDG 4, integrating cultural heritage into the educational environment and curriculum. It ensures the sustainable management of an historic campus resource (SDG 11).

5. 2500 New Hackensack, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York

   • Architect: Jeh Vincent Johnson (1963)
   • Project Focus: Support for a Facilities Management and Preservation Plan and deeper interpretation of Johnson’s legacy on campus.
   • SDG Alignment: This project enhances the educational mission of the college (SDG 4) while promoting sustainable and culturally aware facilities management, contributing to resilient infrastructure as outlined in SDG 11.

Conclusion: A Model for Sustainable Cultural Equity

The “Conserving Black Modernism” initiative serves as an effective model for how cultural preservation can be a powerful driver of sustainable development. By focusing on the work of historically marginalized architects, the program simultaneously advances multiple goals:

• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): It actively works to correct historical inequities in the architectural profession and public history.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): It protects and safeguards irreplaceable cultural heritage, strengthening community identity and ensuring these landmarks are integrated into sustainable urban futures.
• SDG 4 (Quality Education): It transforms historic buildings into sites of learning and inspiration, fostering a more inclusive understanding of history.
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): The collaboration between major philanthropic foundations demonstrates a successful partnership to achieve shared sustainability objectives.

This initiative demonstrates that investing in cultural equity is a direct investment in building more just, resilient, and sustainable communities for the future.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on the “Conserving Black Modernism” initiative addresses several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by focusing on cultural preservation, reducing inequality, promoting education, and highlighting partnerships.

1. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The core theme of the article is the preservation of historic buildings. This directly connects to making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable by protecting cultural heritage. The initiative provides “critical funding” to give “historic buildings designed by Black architects… a new lease on life.”
2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • The article explicitly addresses racial inequality within the architecture profession. It highlights that “only two percent of registered architects in the United States identify as Black” and that the initiative aims to shed light on the “under-known” legacy of Black architects. By funding the preservation of their work, the initiative promotes the social and economic inclusion of a historically marginalized group’s cultural contributions.
3. SDG 4: Quality Education
   • A key goal of the initiative is educational. The article states the goal is to “help tell a more complete story of the trailblazing contributions of Black architects” and “inspire current and future generations.” Several grants are specifically for creating educational materials, such as the “Preservation and Interpretation Plan” for McKenzie Hall and the “accessibility and interpretation plan” for Founder’s Church, which contribute to an appreciation of cultural diversity.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The initiative is a collaborative effort involving multiple organizations. The article names the key partners: “The Getty Foundation and the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund.” It also mentions financial support from “the Ford Foundation,” “Robert D.L. Gardiner Foundation,” and “The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation,” showcasing a multi-stakeholder partnership to achieve common goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Specific targets can be identified for each of the relevant SDGs based on the actions and goals described in the article.

1. Target 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.
   • The entire “Conserving Black Modernism” initiative is a direct effort to meet this target. The article details how grants are provided for “architectural preservation,” “comprehensive preservation plans,” and “campus stewardship plans” for five specific historic buildings, which are part of the world’s cultural heritage.
2. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… race, ethnicity… or other status.
   • The initiative empowers and promotes the inclusion of Black architects’ heritage. By preserving these sites and celebrating the architects, the program works to correct a historical omission and ensure their contributions are recognized within the broader cultural and architectural narrative, thereby promoting racial and ethnic inclusion. The article notes the program is “ensuring the historic contributions Black designers have made to this field are celebrated.”
3. Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including… appreciation of cultural diversity and culture’s contribution to sustainable development.
   • The grants support projects that directly align with this educational target. For example, the funding for McKenzie Hall will support an “interpretive display,” and the grant for the Administration Building at the Interdenominational Theological Center will support “greater historical documentation of Miller’s groundbreaking career.” These actions are designed to educate the public and students, fostering an appreciation for cultural diversity in architecture.
4. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships…
   • The article describes a model civil society and public-private partnership. The collaboration between the Getty Foundation, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Ford Foundation, and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to fund and manage the “Conserving Black Modernism” initiative is a clear example of the effective partnerships this target aims to promote.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article provides several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress.

1. For Target 11.4 (Protecting Heritage):
   • Indicator 11.4.1 (Total expenditure on preservation): The article provides specific financial data. It states that “$3 million in grants is supporting 24 sites” in the broader program, and each of the five “Conserving Black Modernism” sites is “receiving $750,000.” This is a direct measure of private expenditure on the preservation of cultural heritage.
2. For Target 10.2 (Reducing Inequalities):
   • Percentage of Black architects: The article provides a baseline statistic: “Today, only two percent of registered architects in the United States identify as Black.” This figure serves as a stark indicator of the inequality the initiative seeks to address. Future changes in this percentage could measure long-term progress.
   • Number of sites and architects recognized: The article mentions that “21 buildings have benefitted” since the program’s launch and that the 2025 grants recognize “five new designers.” These numbers are direct indicators of the program’s output in promoting the inclusion of Black architects’ heritage.
3. For Target 4.7 (Education for Sustainable Development):
   • Development of educational materials: The article implies indicators through the description of grant-funded projects. Progress can be measured by the completion of the “Preservation and Interpretation Plan” at the University of Oregon, the “accessibility and interpretation plan” at Founder’s Church, and the “Historic Structures Report” and “historical documentation” for the Interdenominational Theological Center.
4. For Target 17.17 (Partnerships):
   • Indicator 17.17.1 (Amount of dollars committed to partnerships): The article quantifies the financial commitment of the partnership, stating that “$3 million in grants” are being distributed through the collaborative effort of the Getty Foundation, National Trust, Ford Foundation, and others. This dollar amount is a clear indicator of the partnership’s scale and commitment.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: culturetype.com