Strawbery Banke Museum Presents SAACC at 25, A Special Exhibit in the Rowland Gallery

PORTSMOUTH — Strawbery Banke Museum is honored to present SAACC at 25: A Quarter Century of Sharing the Black Experience, an exhibition celebrating 25 years of the Seacoast African American Cultural Center—New Hampshire’s first Black arts and culture center. The exhibit opened on Juneteenth, June 19, 2025, in the Rowland Gallery, this exhibition spans two locations—at SAACC’s home inside the Portsmouth Historical Society and Strawbery Banke Museum. The installation in the Rowland Gallery is included with general museum admission.

Founded in 2000 by the late Vernis M. Jackson, the Seacoast African American Cultural Center has served as a vital institution in the Seacoast and beyond, preserving African American, African Diaspora, and African heritage; amplifying diverse voices; and engaging the public with transformative performances, exhibitions, and dialogue.

As part of the Museum’s continuing commitment to inclusive storytelling, Strawbery Banke is proud to host this exhibition during SAACC’s silver jubilee year. Visitors to SAACC at 25 will explore the organization’s journey from its founding, rooted in community solidarity, to its role in public education and cultural preservation, including stewardship of the Portsmouth African Burying Ground, to decades of inspiring programming that center the Black experience.

“We’re honored to help celebrate SAACC’s 25 years of powerful storytelling, advocacy, and cultural leadership,” said Linnea Grim, president and CEO of Strawbery Banke Museum, Thomas W. Haas Endowed Chair. “As part of this partnership, we’re also proud to honor the legacy of Geraldine ‘Jeri’ Cousins Palmer, one of SAACC’s founders. Her family’s story will be featured in the Penhallow-Cousins House when it opens next spring, and we look forward to sharing that history with all who visit.”

“Partnering with Strawbery Banke Museum to mark our 25th anniversary is a powerful way to honor the journey of SAACC,” said Sandi Clark Kaddy, President and Chair of the SAACC Board. “This exhibition is more than a retrospective—it’s a celebration of love, legacy, and leadership, shared with our entire community.”

SAACC at 25 will be presented at two locations:

At SAACC inside the Portsmouth Historical Society, at 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, the exhibition opens May 2 during Art Around Town, featuring Crown, a special installation curated by Najee Brown (Multicultural Arts Center) exploring the artistry and symbolism of Black hair.

At Strawbery Banke Museum, the exhibition opens on Juneteenth, June 19, following SAACC’s annual Freedom Walk from Kittery, ME to the African Burying Ground. This second site will offer an expanded retrospective featuring archival materials, artist commissions, and multigenerational storytelling.

For more information about the SAACC at 25 exhibit and general museum admission, visit StrawberyBanke.org.

About Strawbery Banke Museum:

Strawbery Banke is a nearly 10-acre living history museum in Portsmouth, NH, that interprets over 350 years of local history, from Indigenous history to the present. Through its historical houses on their original sites, heirloom gardens, traditional crafts, and costumed roleplayers, visitors are invited to explore the stories of the families who lived and worked in the authentic waterfront neighborhood of Puddle Dock. As the first Smithsonian Affiliate in New Hampshire, Strawbery Banke is part of a prestigious network of more than 200 Affiliates across the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Panama. Strawbery Banke welcomes visitors, members, schoolchildren, and volunteers for daily programs, exhibits, special events, and seasonal ice skating. Strawbery Banke Museum is funded in part by grants from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation; the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts & National Endowment for the Arts; the Institute of Museum and Library Services; the National Endowment. For more information, visit www.StrawberyBanke.org.

About Seacoast African American Cultural Center:

Founded in 2000, the Seacoast African American Cultural Center (SAACC) is a vibrant cultural hub located in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, dedicated to celebrating and sharing the rich contributions of African Americans in the Seacoast region and beyond. Through exhibits, concerts, theater performances, educational programs, and community events, SAACC honors the past while cultivating dialogue and creativity in the present. The Center features an active book club and library, collections of Africana artifacts, and rotating exhibits by notable artists. For more information, visit www.saaccnh.org.