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Motown Museum breaks ground on $50 million expansion project

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The Motown Museum has broken ground on the first phase of its $50 million expansion. Motown founder Berry Gordy marked the occasion at the site of his music empire.

The ground breaking took place on September 22 during a weekend of events for Motown’s 60th anniversary.

The museum’s fundraising campaign has now crossed the $25 million threshold, according to chairwoman Robin Terry.

Work has started on a space that will be called ‘Hitsville Next’, the first phase of expansion at the West Grand Boulevard site in Detroit (via Detroit Free Press).

Motown Museum fundraising campaign crosses $25m

motown museum

The work will be done by Hamilton Anderson Associates and Brinker Construction. There will be four construction phases.

Gordy recently announced plans to donate $4 million towards the project. He said: “I’m excited about the future of Motown Museum and happy to support it.

“Not only will the expanded museum entertain and tell the stories of talented and creative people who succeeded against all odds, but it will also inspire and create opportunity for people to explore their dreams the way I did mine. I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of that.”

The Motown Museum will become a 50,000 square foot destination with interactive exhibits, a state-of-the-art performance theatre, and recording studios.

Work has started on a space known as ‘Hitsville Next’

motown museum

It will also get an expanded shopping experience as well as meeting spaces, and is designed and built around the current space and the Hitsville USA house.

When the expansion was announced, Gordy said: “It brings me real joy, and I am proud and humbled to know that the inclusive legacy of Motown, and the most talented people who are so near and dear to my heart, will have their stories told in this new museum.”

In more music museum news, the Universal Hip Hop Museum is opening in the Bronx, New York in 2023, with tech-driven exhibits set to play a central role.

Images: Motown Museum

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Bea Mitchell

Bea is a journalist specialising in entertainment, attractions and tech with 10 years' experience. She has written and edited for publications including CNET, BuzzFeed, Digital Spy, Evening Standard and BBC. Bea graduated from King's College London and has an MA in journalism.

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