Mustard Seed Place proposes Museum of Black Women Innovators, seeks Portsmouth partnership and $600,000 city share

Dr. Reddick, executive lead for the Mustard Seed Place project, presented a plan at the Portsmouth City Council work session on May 27 to launch the Museum of Black Women Innovators in the building at 340 High Street and asked the city to consider a formal partnership and a multiyear contribution that she described as approximately 10 percent of initial fundraising.

Reddick described a phased approach: phase 1 will occupy about 7,000 square feet on the first floor as a gallery and digital museum with a planned gallery opening in December 2025; longer‑term plans call for an expanded permanent campus and traveling exhibits. She said the project has hired Roto (a museum design firm), is working with researchers and PhD advisors, and has partnerships with the Old Dominion University Women’s Business Center, YWCA of South Hampton Roads and others. "Our goal is that there is not a cost to visitors," Reddick said, adding that fundraising would underwrite free admission.

On finances and timeline, Reddick outlined a startup and first‑three‑year budget of roughly $6,000,000 and said the broader four‑year sustainability target is about $6.2 million; she said the immediate first fundraising milestone is $3,000,000. At the meeting she said she is seeking a city commitment equal to about 10 percent of funds the project expects to raise and described that as roughly $600,000 over multiple years. The presentation included visitor and economic impact assumptions: a conservative first‑year visitation estimate of 10,000 people, student outreach to hundreds of local students, and a gift shop and membership revenue model.

Reddick said the museum will feature interactive exhibits, an innovation lab, an innovator‑in‑residence program, and educational programming for schools and HBCUs. She said the team plans a primarily lean staffing model at opening, outsourcing security and marketing, and recruiting a museum director (noted candidates include individuals with experience at Norfolk Botanical Gardens and the Chrysler Museum). Roto has completed a visitor flow and density study that informed gallery design and age‑targeted exhibits.

Council members responded positively and offered local historical and civic resources. Councilwoman Thomas said the project aligns with the city’s innovation district and suggested local historians and educators who could support curation; Councilman Tillich welcomed the investment and its location in a historically significant corner of the city. Several council members and staff offered to connect Reddick with local tourism, historical society and philanthropic contacts. No formal city commitment or vote was taken at the session.