NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A new museum in Tennessee that focuses on African American music will open next month in Nashville.
The National Museum of African American Music will host a socially distanced ribbon cutting on Jan. 18, 2021, when it formally opens, news outlets reported Tuesday. Members of the museum will be able to take tours on Jan. 23-24 and the facility will open to the public on Jan. 30.
Museum President and CEO H. Beecher Hicks III said officials look forward to welcoming music lovers and celebrating the history of African American music.
“We have been preparing for this day for more than 20 years, but this museum has actually been more than 400 years in the making.” he said.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the museum said, it would limit the number of people inside the museum and all visitors would be required to wear masks.
According to the museum’s website, “the 56,000-square-foot facility will be an anchor tenant within the urban development known as Fifth + Broadway. It is the only museum dedicated to educating, preserving and celebrating more than 50 music genres and styles that were created, influenced and/or inspired by African Americans, including spirituals, blues, jazz, gospel, R&B, and hip hop.”
Each of the museum’s galleries will showcase a different narrative and perspective on African American music — its history, legacy and impact on the world — through the use of artifacts, objects, memorabilia, clothing and state-of-the-art technology.
More details can be found at nmaam.org.
