He wrote Pittsburgh into American theater history; now his name crowns one of its boldest cultural buildings. The August Wilson African American Cultural Center, at 980 Liberty Avenue downtown, is a multidisciplinary landmark dedicated to art, history and culture of the African diaspora — named for the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright whose ten-play American Century Cycle is rooted in the Hill District where he was born.
Inside, rotating gallery exhibitions showcase contemporary Black artists, while the center’s programming runs from theater and dance to its celebrated Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival each fall. The building itself — a sleek vessel of glass and light by architect Allison G. Williams — has become a downtown icon since opening in 2009.
Exhibitions are often free; the calendar of performances, talks and festivals is at awaacc.org. Pair a visit with a walk to the Hill District to feel the full arc of Wilson’s world.
