The Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute was founded as part of Seattle's Model Cities program. Housed in the former Chevra Bikur Cholim synagogue at 17th and Yesler, it was originally called the Yesler-Atlantic Community Center when it opened in 1972 and was managed by the Parks Department. The name was changed in 1973 to the Langston Hughes Cultural Center to reflect its focus on providing access to arts and culture from the African diaspora. The center offered classes and activities ranging from puppetry and flower arranging to karate and public speaking. It also had a food program for young people and hosted performing arts events. In 2013, the City's management of the center moved from the Parks Department to the Office of Arts & Culture, and (after several other interim name changes) it became known as the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute. The nonprofit LANGSTON was formed in 2016 to handle programming at the center and eventually take over management entirely.
This collection spans over two decades of events sponsored by the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute as well as publications and mailings. Includes functional items like Hughes News (newsletter), membership information, schedules and programming, youth program advertisements, and information about the institute. Events like fundraising and galas, celebrations and festivals, concerts, performances, plays, and musicals are represented by flyers, mailers, programs, and booklets. Recurring programs include the African American Film Festival, Illuminating Langston Fundraising Gala, Chipupugwendere, Back to its Roots, and summer musicals. Performers include Gil Scott-Heron, Cocoa Martini, The Folks Trio, Ronnie Laws and Hubert Laws.
Records are open to the public.
[Item and date], Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute Publications and Programs, Record Series 7420-04. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.