The Amistad Center for Art & Culture founded in 1987 is a not-for-profit cultural arts organization, which owns a vital collection of 7000 items including art, artifacts and popular culture objects that document the experience, expressions and history of people of African American heritage. The Amistad Center for Art & Culture is housed at the Wadsworth Atheneneum Museum of Art in Hartford, Connecticut. It is an independently incorporated 501 (c) 3 organization. Inspired by its collection, the mission of The Amistad Center is to interpret and celebrate African American arts and humanities and to educate the public about their importance and influence in American life.