Since its opening in mid-2023, IAAM has enjoyed an ever-expanding audience, with peak daily attendance of close to a thousand, reflecting its positive reception and increasingly meaningful presence in the community.

This strong engagement began early the design process, when the landscape designer organized meetings with the local community, and the entire design team—along with community advisors, IAAM staff, and city representatives—participated in an intensive three-day tour of the Gadsden’s Wharf site and North Charleston neighborhoods, occupied largely by descendants of Lowcountry enslaved people. These communities, which continue to practice the Gullah cultural traditions that permeate South Carolina’s Rice Coast, became a major source of inspiration for the landscape design, which intertwines this cultural and ecological heritage with the sustainability of the Cooper River's ecosystems. The design showcases native flora typical of Lowcountry marshes alongside plants introduced by enslaved Africans during the Atlantic passage. A sweetgrass field recalls the region’s basketweaving tradition while providing habitat for birds. Surrounding the museum, a series of gardens blends stormwater management systems with a varied tree canopy and an assortment of plants of cultural importance, enhancing the museum's educational mission and providing shading and respite for the public.

IAAM continues to nurture its local connections in many ways, from offering outreach to the Gullah Geechee community and developing a robust school field-trip program to hosting workshops in Studio Time, a flexible space designed for creative programming. Recent activities include the Young Griots drop-in workshop, which connects participants to the West African storytelling tradition through conversations about resistance, empowerment, and hope.