• Before turning to curation and archiving, Deyane Moses trained as a photographer at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). Her first curatorial project, the Maryland Institute Black Archives (MIBA), uncovered the erased history of Black students at MICA and documented as many stories from present-day Black students, alumni, faculty, and staff as possible.

    Her project culminated in an exhibition of photographs and other historic documents from MICA and its community members. After earning her BFA in 2019, she continued her studies at MICA, earning an MFA in Curatorial Practice in 2021. Since she began MIBA in 2018, it has grown into Blackives, LLC, whose mission is to “provide historical research, archival services, and knowledge mobilization for Black artists and communities.” — Words by A.F. Oehmke, Collapsing Time: Deyane Moses and the Maryland Institute Black Archives, BMORE Art, 2022

    MIBA and other community work galvanized Ms. Moses to create Blackives, LLC. The name is a merges Black life and the Archives.

  • Blackives, LLC is a Black cultural heritage and organizing firm based in Baltimore, MD. We provide high-quality, affordable, and professional archive and curatorial services to individuals and cultural organizations. Through collaboration, we assist in the cultivation of untold narratives and celebration of the Black experience.

    Blackives, LLC supports the Maryland Institute Black Archives (MIBA)– a growing community archive​ that uncovers, ​preserves, educates and celebrates Black ​A​rt ​​History in Maryland.

  • Autonomy. The preservation of our community’s narratives.

    Equitable and explicitly non-exploitative labor practices around the creation, collection, care, description, preservation, and access to and of heritage materials.

    The preservation and conservation of materials according to best practices.

    Open access to historical materials with respect to community needs and copyright agreements.

    Educational resources and transparent communication with the public about cultural heritage practices, grants, and theories.

  • Research, uncover, document, preserve, and celebrate Black Art History in Maryland.

    Bring together artifacts from our community, as well as hundreds of thousands of scanned materials from over 1,000 libraries and archives from across the country.

    Provide and understanding of the influence of Black graduates in the world.

    Develop programs and distribute resources to assist the community in knowing each other.

    Assist in the activism efforts of our community.

    Create a community of thoughtful discourse on the ethical documentation of the Black Community.

    Assist in broadly impacting the archival profession by prompting a shift in collecting, processing, and engagement with Black communities.

  • AFRO Charities Inc.

    Baltimore Museum of Art

    Baltimore Office of Promotion & Arts

    Baltimore Speaks

    Black Artist Research Space

    Black Baltimore Digital Database

    BMORE Art

    Carver Vocational Technical School

    Enoch Pratt Library

    Eubie Blake Cultural Center

    Great Blacks In Wax Museum

    Hoes Heights Action Committee

    Johns Hopkin University

    Lillie Carroll Jackson Museum

    MD Center For History and Culture

    Maryland Institute College of Art

    MotorHouse

    Reginald F. Lewis Museum

    Second Chance

    The Steven Scott Gallery

    The University of Baltimore

    *This is a list of institutions we have or are currently collaborating with. If we have missed anyone, please charge it to our head and not our heart.

  • Every community owes its existence and strength to the generations before them, around the world, who contributed their hopes, dreams, and energy into making the history that led to this moment. Some were brought here against their will, some were drawn to migrate from their homes in hope of a better life, and some have lived on this land for more generations than can be counted. Truth and acknowledgment are critical in building mutual respect and connections across all barriers of heritage and difference.

    MIBA believes it is important to create dialogue to honor those that have been historically and systemically disenfranchised. So, we acknowledge the truth that is often buried: We are on the ancestral lands of the Piscataway People, who were among the first in the Western Hemisphere. We are on indigenous land that was stolen from the Piscataway People by European colonists. We pay respects to Piscataway elders and ancestors. Please take a moment to consider the many legacies of violence, displacement, migration, and settlement that bring us together here today.

    The land acknowledgment we use was organized by Ghonva Ghauri from MICA and approved by Piscataway elders. If you'd like to use the land acknowledgement below for your own office/school/group, please feel free, but we ask that you not change any of the words aside from the office/unit name, as this was the exact language that was approved by Piscataway Tribe elders.