AIDS Museum

Welcome to About Us

The AIDS Museum will be America's national institution for the documentation, study, and interpretation of the AIDS Pandemic. The mission of the Museum will be to advance and disseminate knowledge about AIDS, to preserve the memory of those who have died and continue to suffer, and to encourage visitors to reflect upon the medical, political, and humanitarian questions raised by the AIDS Pandemic. The Museum will have an inspirational tone, highlighting the ways in which people have come together through organizations to creatively address the range of social and health care issues raised by the Pandemic.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What services does the AIDS Museum offer?
We organize exhibits of art by HIV-positive artists and art related to AIDS. Through these exhibits, we hope to educate people about HIV and reduce the stigma associated with AIDS. In conjunction with the exhibits we hold other events such as presentations by HIV-positive speakers or individuals who work for AIDS service organizations, documentary or film screenings, and vigils. The AIDS Museum is also creating a library consisting of books about AIDS and HIV education materials such as games and posters donated by Family Health International. Some examples of titles in our library include Not in My Family: AIDS in the African American Community edited by Gil R. Robertson IV and The First Year: HIV: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed by Brett Grodeck.

Where is the AIDS Museum?
Although the AIDS Museum does not yet have a permanent location, our goal is to have a building in Newark, NJ. We have held temporary traveling exhibits in New Jersey, New York, and Virginia.

Why Newark?
Newark has several advantages, including a growing arts and culture sector, easy accessibility by public transportation, and low rents and costs. We at the AIDS Museum also see the opportunity to contribute to the economic development of Newark and provide HIV prevention education in a city with over 13,000 AIDS cases.

Can my organization host an exhibit?
If you would like to host an AIDS Museum exhibit at your gallery, school, university, place of worship, or business, please get in touch with us by email or phone. We can organize exhibits of all different sizes including the artwork in our permanent collection and/or in conjunction with other collaborating artists. The largest exhibit we have held included 25 pieces. The smallest was a single sculpture installation. The exhibit costs vary depending on the size and amount of artwork as well as the distance of the exhibit from our storage location. We can curate exhibits that are appropriate for adults or children, and we have previously exhibited at religious organizations. We prefer that requests be submitted at least two months in advance of the anticipated exhibit date. Our shortest exhibit was less than one week. Our longest exhibit was several months long.

Is the AIDS Museum a nonprofit organization?
Yes, the AIDS Museum is a tax exempt 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization.

How can I make a donation?
Your tax deductible donation can be sent by check to The AIDS Museum at 250 Central Ave., #126, Newark, NJ 07103. You can also donate by credit card, debit card or PayPal online. We accept cash donations at some of our exhibits.

Do you accept donated artwork?
The AIDS Museum receives donations of artwork by HIV-positive artists and art related to AIDS. Whether we can accept a particular piece depends in part on the size of the work due to our storage and transportation constraints. How is the AIDS Museum funded?In addition to individual donations, the AIDS Museum has received two generous grants from the Seton Hall University Center for Vocation and Servant Leadership. Additional revenue comes from fees for exhibits.

Does the AIDS Museum have any paid staff?
No, the AIDS Museum is run entirely by volunteers. We sometimes provide stipends for artists and speakers for their services. Our funds go directly toward exhibits and other programs (which involves printing educational materials and marketing the events as well as purchasing, storing, and transporting artwork).

---

Listed below are potential features of the Museum we would like to have once we have enough funding for a permanant building:

Honor Garden-people who have lost loved ones to AIDS may sponsor a plant in the memorial garden

Art Gallery-collection of work by HIV positive artists and work related to HIV/AIDS

Auditorium - with a screen and stage for performances, movies, and documentaries related to AIDS and as a venue for speakers

Ballroom and dining hall-for the purpose of hosting fundraising events such as galas or dinners to benefit AIDS organizations

Conference rooms-for meetings between AIDS organizations, doctors, patients, etc.

Classrooms-for lectures and information sessions

Library-housing research about HIV/AIDS

Digital ticker-showing up to the minute results with the count of how many people are infected and how many have died of AIDS

Gift shop-to help sustain the museum, with a portion of the proceeds donated to one or more AIDS organizations

Fountain-for people to drop in their loose change. Nonprofit organizations benefiting people with AIDS can sign up to collect the money from the fountain as a fundraiser. A different organization will be allowed to do this every month

Reflection room-with comfortable places to sit and little decoration for personal prayer or meditation

Exhibits
o Panels of the Names Quilt
o A timeline of the AIDS Pandemic
o Interactive computers, particularly geared toward children