International African American Museum plans going forward

The site of the planned International African American Museum remains a vacant lot eight years after Mayor Joe Riley proposed creating the institution.

But behind the scenes, plans are moving ahead. The board of the IAAM has been working since April to select a company for the crucial job of crafting exhibits and an interpretive design for the museum, and has created a short list of seven firms that have been invited to submit detailed proposals.

The museum board is still working with limited funding; about $1.3 million to date, nearly all of which has come from local, state and federal grants.

With the museum expected to cost perhaps $80 million, the board is preparing for a major fundraising appeal next year.

Firms invited to submit proposals for exhibits and interpretive design:

Amaze Design www.amazedesign.com

BRC Imagination Arts www.brcweb.com and Jackson Brady Design Group www.jacksondesigngroup.com>

Ralph Appelbaum Associates www.raany.com>

Christopher Chadbourne & Associates www.ccadesign.com>

EVENT Communications www.eventcomm.com>

Howard + Revis Design Services www.howardrevis.com>

KPC Design www.kpcdesign.com

Read more in tomorrow's editions of The Post and Courier.