ACM Pledges $2.5 Million to HoF Capital Campaign

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Country artists help ACM officers present the Hall of Fame with a check for $2.5 million. (L-R front row): ACM President Butch Waugh, Kenny Chesney, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, ACM Chairman Sarah Trahern, Darius Rucker, CMHOFM’s VP of Development Pamela Johnson, Kenny Rogers, Nicole Richie, Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, ACM CEO Bob Romeo, Jennifer Nettles, Marc Anthony; (L-R middle row): Jay DeMarcus, Joe Don Rooney, Gary LeVox, John Rich, Big Kenny, Sara Evans, Jason Aldean, ACM Vice President Ken Robold, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, Dave Haywood. (L-R back row): Neil Perry, Kimberly Perry, Reid Perry. Copyright Chris Kolk for People Country Magazine.

The Academy of Country Music has pledged $2.5 million to Working on a Building: Country Music Lives Here, the capital campaign that will finance the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s expansion to over 350,000 square feet. Included in the Hall of Fame’s expansion will be the ACM Contemporary Gallery, which will investigate modern trends in country music.

The Academy previously donated a $300,000 gift to the HoF to assist in the acquisition of four instruments that played a role in the legacies of Maybelle Carter, Johnny Cash, and Bill Monroe. The Academy also provides support for the HoF’s All For The Hall Los Angeles benefits, and is a sponsor of the new exhibition The Bakersfield Sound: Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, and California Country.

“It is the Academy’s honor to help ensure that the history of country music can be told for generations to come,” said Bob Romeo, CEO of the Academy of Country Music. “We are able to make this kind of contribution only because of the incredible country music artists who give of their time for Academy charitable endeavors; we can’t thank them enough for the impact they have on our industry.”

“We are deeply indebted to the ACM for this wonderful gift, which will help us continue to fulfill our educational mission and serve our worldwide audience,” said Museum Director Kyle Young. “The genre we chronicle is a living thing, constantly evolving; country music history is being made every day. Great museums must remain relevant, and the ACM Contemporary Gallery will allow us to not only expand our examination and celebration of modern stars, important background players and new developments in the genre, but also to spotlight new artists, trends and issues as they break.”

The Working on a Building campaign started in July 2011 and has raised $70 million in cash and pledges to date. The Museum’s expansion is expected to be completed in early 2014.

Freeman
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