The National Museum of African American Music, set to complete construction in late 2019, will be the only museum dedicated solely to preserving African American music traditions and celebrating the influence African Americans have had on music. Based in Nashville, Tenn., the museum will share the story of the American soundtrack by integrating history and interactive technology to bring musical heroes of the past into the present. In an effort to assist in the construction the ambitious project, it was recently announced a joint gift of $1 million from the Regions Foundation and the Mike Curb Foundation, The National Museum of African American Music.
Each organization is contributing $500,000 toward the museum’s construction – which will feature ambitious and evolving displays in tribute to America’s most dynamic and transformative African American artists and movements. to announce the significant gifts and unveil new details of what the expansive, 56,000 square foot museum will share with its guests.
H. Beecher Hicks, III, president and CEO of NMAAM remarked, “Today’s event marks a major fundraising milestone for us. After years of planning and discussions, this project will soon become a reality. We are so grateful to the Regions Foundation and the Mike Curb Foundation for helping to make this pioneering museum a reality.”
“We’ve decided to name our gift in honor of the Fisk Jubilee Singers and the highlight the impact they’ve had on our city’s rich musical history,” says Jim Ed Norman of the Mike Curb Foundation. “We think it’s fitting that all visitors to the museum will now see the “Fisk Jubilee Singers” name at the Broadway entrance as it will serve as a reminder of the musical influences in our great city.”
The museum will be home to traveling exhibits and five permanent galleries featuring 25 interactive displays that chronicle the history of African American music from the 1800s to the present day. More than 1,400 artifacts have already been collected to be showcased in the space.
