Southampton African American Museum President and CEO Brenda Simmons reflects on growing up in Southampton, saving a historic landmark, and why the museum’s fifth annual Art & Soul Weekend has become one of the Hamptons’ signature cultural celebrations.

The fifth annual Art & Soul Weekend at the Southampton African American Museum takes place July 17-19, bringing three days of art, live music, film, food and culture to the East End.

The annual celebration features exhibitions, performances, chef experiences and community events. Highlights include Friday’s collaboration with the Southampton Arts Center featuring chefs, a film talkback and outdoor art programming; Saturday’s art walk, opening reception for Damien Davis’ exhibition and performances by Yacouba Sissoko & SIYA African Band with Caribbean soul food; and Sunday’s Bubbles & Bloom fundraising brunch at the Southampton Inn.

SPARK spoke with Brenda Simmons, co-founder, president and CEO of the Southampton African American Museum, about this year’s event, growing up in Southampton, preserving local Black history and more.

The SPARK Fast Five: Brenda Simmons

1. This weekend is a major cultural event for the Southampton African American Museum. Why does it matter to the community?

BS: It’s very important to continue bringing people of color here to the Hamptons to see and experience the wonderful Southampton African American Museum — the first African American site to receive historic designation in the Village of Southampton.

When people find out there’s a Black museum here, that alone draws them. People come here from California. It’s a very popular event. We feature seven or eight Black chefs, Black-owned whiskey, Black-owned champagne and more. We don’t charge vendors to participate because we want them to benefit from the exposure.

It’s a beautiful community event with food, film and art.

The Southampton African American History Museum transformation was many years in the making. Photo courtesy of SAAM

The Southampton African American History Museum transformation was many years in the making. Photo courtesy of SAAM

2. The museum building has a remarkable history. Tell us about it.

BS: manuel Seymour was a barber and carpenter who came here as part of the Great Migration. He had the audacity to open a business that was half barbershop and half beauty salon in Southampton.

My Aunt Evelyn Baxter was the beautician there, and when I was about 12 or 13, I answered the phones. So the place has special significance to me as well.

Years later, I worked for Southampton Mayor Mark Epley for 12 years. I remember when a letter came across his desk proposing that the building be torn down.

There is a legacy here. The contributions of people of color on the East End are significant, and I was determined to make sure this building remained standing.

3. You were born and raised in Southampton. What was that like?

BS: My parents came from the South, and I think that fear stayed with them. They wouldn’t allow us to go down Job’s Lane.

Even as a teenager, I respected my parents. You didn’t ask questions. You did what your mama and daddy told you to do.

One evening in high school, some classmates and I had been drinking, and we decided to walk down Job’s Lane near Windmill Lane. I remember a man yelling at us, “What are you n—–rs doing here?”

I was probably 15 years old. It was around 1971 or 1972.

You never forget something like that.

My parents came out here because there was work on the potato farms. They first lived in housing on Hillcrest Avenue — what we called “The Hill” — where many Black families lived.

Many Black-owned businesses grew out of that community.

— Brenda Simmons

As a young girl, I remember a Black business association forming. For a short time, I served as its secretary.

4. Tell us about your dad and the business he owned here.

BS: My dad owned a juke joint restaurant in East Hampton called The Cottage Inn during the 1960s.

My sister and I used to play on the stage during the day. I was probably 7 or 8 years old.

This was during the Chitlin’ Circuit, when Black entertainers often couldn’t perform or dine at white-owned establishments.

My dad’s place was on Springs Fireplace Road, where the East Hampton Senior Citizens Center now stands.

James Brown, Ike and Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles all performed there.

My sister and I would slide across the same dance floor during the day where James Brown performed at night.

Years later, I wanted to confirm that my father had owned the business. I connected with bassist Steve Boone, who had played there when The Lovin’ Spoonful was still known as The Kingsmen.

He told me, “Your father gave us such a great start. We were six skinny white guys, and that all-Black audience welcomed us.”

He also told me the collard greens were the best he’d ever eaten.

5. What matters most to you these days?

BS: I’m a serious advocate for my community.

When there was talk of tearing down the East Hampton Senior Citizens Center, I appeared before the board and asked that if it ever came down, there should be some kind of historical marker there. They agreed.

I’ve been with the Southampton African American Museum since Juneteenth 2021, the same year Juneteenth became a federal holiday.

The museum was 16 years in the making. When that letter arrived proposing that the old barbershop be demolished because it was considered “an eyesore to the image of the Hamptons,” I happened to be in the right place at the right time.

Today the museum is thriving. We receive funding from Suffolk County, and I’m proud to say we were also awarded a $300,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation, distributed over three years.

Now we’re celebrating our fifth annual Art & Soul Weekend.

Throughout the year, we present Black history programs and rotating art exhibitions. I especially enjoy giving young Black artists their first solo exhibitions because I know how important those opportunities can be.

In May, we welcomed a visiting artist from Zimbabwe. We’re also community partners with the Hamptons Fine Art Fair. At one point, we welcomed 52 Black attorneys who toured the museum, and members of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., have visited us as well.

Every year after Art & Soul Weekend, people ask, “When are next year’s dates?” so they can book their flights.

It’s an exciting time.

IF YOU GO

Art & Soul Weekend
Southampton African American Museum

July 17-19, 2026

For information and tickets, visit saamuseum.org.

Angela LaGreca

Editor, Co-Founder/Publisher

Angela LaGreca, Editor-in-chief and co-Founder/Publisher of Spark Hamptons, is a four-time Emmy Award-winning journalist, producer, writer and comedian/host. Her TV credits include NBC’s “Today,” ABC’s “The View,” and, most recently, the primetime cable news program “Cuomo” on NewsNation. On the East End, she was the Creative Director at LTV, VP Features/Events/Photo Editor at Dan’s Papers, and has performed at Guild Hall, Bay Street Theater and the WHBPAC. Her publishing career began at Modern Photography, where she was managing editor. LaGreca lives in Manhattan and East Hampton and can be reached at angelatvmedia@gmail.com and angela@sparkhamptons.com .