George A. Bayard III, Executive Director of the Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives (GRAAMA), shares the museum’s origin story, a selection of unique local stories he’s encountered, and his vision for the futures of both GRAAMA and West Michigan itself.
Bayard holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art Education from the University of Delaware and is a professional picture framer, conservator, appraiser, historian, Black culture expert, and arts advocate. He became regional manager of Philadelphia’s largest picture frame chain before moving to Grand Rapids, where he owned the Bayard Gallery of Fine African American Art for thirty years before founding GRAAMA in 2016. Bayard received the 2019 Albert Baxter Award for Local History, the 2020 Carol and David Van Andel Leadership Award, the 2019-2023 Grand Rapid Business Journal 200 Most Powerful People Award, and the 2024 Ethel Coe Humanities Award. Bayard serves on the boards of the Grand Rapids Historical Commission, GVSU’s Kutsche Office of Local History, the Michigan Museum Association, and the Grand Rapids Arts Advisory Commission.
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In the event that a program is modified, postponed, or cancelled, we reach out via email to all who have preregistered. If a significant change is made on short notice, your preregistration helps to ensure that you get the word from us in the most timely manner possible.
Registering for programs in advance also helps our staff to assess set-up needs beforehand, reducing the need for last-minute adjustments to numbers of chairs, tables, etc. Further, it streamlines the check-in process when you arrive and allows us to keep you in the loop about other upcoming programs that might be of interest!