HGGHH and the Library worked together to determine which locations would host the exhibit. 

“We wanted to have libraries that were in neighborhoods that are typically culturally underserved, especially by museums. We were also looking for neighborhoods with a lower percentage of people with access to a vehicle,” Jagger said, explaining why they landed on East New Orleans Regional Library.  

Nora Navra Library is located in the 7th Ward, one of New Orleans’ historic and culturally significant Black neighborhoods. 

“That area is where blacksmiths have traditionally lived throughout the history of New Orleans and is where quite a few still-practicing blacksmiths today live,” Jagger said. “So we also wanted to connect with that history.” 

HGGHH Curator Katie Burlison used the Library’s City Archives & Special Collections to build “Artistry in Iron,” which is another reason they felt it was important to deepen their partnership with the Library, Jagger said. 

“We always knew we would need to partner with the Library in some way in order to get the information that we needed to create the exhibition in the first place. So, being able to give something back to the Library as well was very intriguing to us,” Jagger said. 

Archivist Amanda Fallis helped facilitate the project, which she saw as a fantastic opportunity to bring history out from the confines of a museum and into the hands of the public. 

“‘Artistry in Iron’ celebrates African-American contributions to the building of our city that in the past have been neglected by the gatekeepers of history,” Fallis said. “Working with a fellow historic and cultural institution in New Orleans is always gratifying. It allows the City Archives and the Library to bring more of the city’s history directly to our patrons.” 

In short, Jagger said partnering with the Library helps to further HGGHH’s inclusivity, which is one of their four values. 

“To us, that means confronting bias, engaging diverse communities, and furthering the inclusion of historically overlooked stories, stakeholders, and audiences,” she said. “By bringing our exhibition to the Library –– which is a place that people already know, already trust, and already feel welcomed in –– we hope to forge a relationship with the communities that built New Orleans. By starting that engagement through content and showing them that we aren’t just a pretty old house for tourists, we hope they feel comfortable and welcomed enough to come to the museum in the future.”