Anyone curious about Gallery 507 in Milwaukee’s Bronzeville district can get a preview of the space through this weekend.

Named after its location at 507 W. North Ave., Gallery 507 is the headquarters for Bronzeville Center for the Arts, a nonprofit organization focused on highlighting the art and history of the African diaspora. 

Proceeds from the gift shop will be used to support the 50,000-square-foot African American art museum that the nonprofit is planning to develop in the former Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources building at 2300 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. 

“People are very curious about this building,” said Robyn Cherry, communications manager for Bronzeville Center for the Arts. 

“The gift shop is just like a way for us to introduce ourselves to the neighborhood,” Cherry said.  

The gift shop will be open from noon to 6 p.m., Wednesday through Friday, (except Christmas Day, Dec. 25), and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m on Saturday, Dec. 28.

The shop features artisan items like statues, ornaments, musical shakers, dolls, apparel and accessories, as well as books, cards, puzzles and games. 

Many items were made in African countries such as Zimbabwe and Kenya. There are also locally made items for sale, such as soy candles made by the Franciscan Peacemakers, a nonprofit that offers services and employment to female survivors of sexual exploitation.

“We try to get something for everyone,” Cherry said.  

Since completion of construction on Gallery 507 earlier this year, the space has been open for events, including The Hip Hop Architecture Camp in August and Doors Open Milwaukee in September. 

The gallery is currently operating as an office and does not have an official exhibit, but it is displaying collages made by residents, ages 4 to 84, who attended past events, Cherry said. 

The museum project, estimated to cost $55 million, is still in the planning phase, according to Erin Harkey, the executive director of Bronzeville Center for the Arts.

“In 2025, we will conduct strategic planning and design to determine the full scope of the museum and its future programs,” Harkey said. 

Gallery 507 will be open for special events and programs next year.