Founded in 1970 by David A. Portlock, the Center’s purpose is to provide a way to assess the educational and social experiences of African, Latino/a, Asian, and Native American (ALANA) students as well as initiate and improve programs. It is an integral part of the College’s effort to provide multicultural education to the campus community.

The Center features an art gallery, which also serves as a seminar and meeting room, social space for programming and meetings, a full size kitchen, and houses the Aaron O. Hoff Special Collection, a library filled with books, magazines, documentaries, and journals rooted on issues of cultural diversity and social justice.

Ongoing activities include art exhibits, workshops, dinners for campus guests, alumni events, guest speakers and lectures, classes, receptions, film showings, and other community sponsored events. The center works closely with local community organizations to enhance cultural awareness, support community-wide programs, and provide a forum for networking.

In the Gallery
Recent guests included artist James Rose Jr. who uses self-portraits and his own body as subject matter to present a critique of race and identity. Last year Rose produced a series of innovative portraits and etchings capturing his unusual sense of spirituality and bold and subtle qualities that define his signature style. Rose has received many honors for his work including the Camille Cosby Hanks Award from the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture and a Pennsylvania Council on the Arts “Work on Paper” grant.

Barbara Bullock, an award-winning Philadelphia artist, who transforms her talents into stories through her passionate interest in the history and continuing experience of the African Diaspora, spoke about her art. Her work is in the collections of the African American Museum and Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia, and has been exhibited at Howard University, Stockton College Art Gallery, the Painted Bride Art Center, Sande Webster Gallery, and Rutgers Center of Innovative Printmaking.

A selection of the works of Curlee Raven Holton, professor of art and director of Lafayette’s Experimental Printmaking Institute, has also been featured at the Portlock Gallery. The exhibit included themes of biblical and biological creation, incorporating ink, paint, paper, and canvas. Other recent visiting renowned artists who have spoken on their work, and whose work has been displayed in the Art Gallery Series, include Angel Suarez-Rosado, Karima Muyaes, and Rolando Rojas.

Links to the Community
The center has ongoing relationships with the Boys & Girls Club of Easton and the Children’s Home of Easton. Students in these programs are invited to participate in special campus events such as Kwanzaa, the African Market, culturally celebrated months.. Lafayette volunteers also work with the young students as mentors. Community members and students from local schools are invited to activities and presentations throughout the year, including culturally celebrated months such as Black History Month, Latino Heritage Month, and other cultures and art exhibitions.

Getting Involved
The Portlock Black Cultural Center maintains a strong relationship with the Office of Intercultural Development, located in 101 Hogg Hall, providing students and organizations with the opportunity to work closely with cultural programming and organizational leadership at the center and throughout the campus. This provides students with the opportunity to work with the office, and be a part of the organization and coordination of intercultural and cross-cultural programs and events.

The Center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. The gallery is open Monday- Friday from 10:00 a.m - 4:00 p.m. or by appointment at other times, and during special campus events such as Homecoming and Family Weekend.

David A. Portlock Black Cultural Center
Michael Benitez Jr.
Director, and Director for the Office of Intercultural Development

Kimberly Roberts
Assistant Director of Intercultural Development

Susan Ellis
Gallery Curator

Peggy Bonner
Office Manager

For additional information:
101 McCartney Street
Easton, PA 18042
(610) 330-5698 or (610) 330-5819
Fax: (610) 330-5743
portlock@lafayette.edu