Kansas City, Missouri – Kansas City leaders have agreed to give the American Jazz Museum more money to make big improvements. This is a big step toward keeping one of the city’s most famous cultural organizations in operation.
The City Council approved a $3.2 million investment to renovate and expand the museum in the Historic Jazz District, a place that has long been linked to the origins and growth of jazz in the United States.
The goal of the project is to update old buildings and make new spaces where people may learn more about Kansas City’s musical history. City officials say that the changes will help the museum keep bringing in visitors from all around the country and the world, and they will also make it a better place for learning and community building.
Mayor Quinton Lucas called the museum a world-class institution and said the investment makes sure that future generations may learn about the city’s jazz legacy in meaningful ways.
“The American Jazz Museum is a world-class cultural institution right here in Kansas City,” said Mayor Quinton Lucas. “The City’s investment will help the museum continue sharing our city’s incredible jazz history with the next generation.”
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Two big studies that garnered input from neighbors, stakeholders, and museum leaders led to the plans for the renovation. Some of the proposed renovations are moving the Blue Room performance space to a new location that can hold about 180 to 200 people, creating a café and more shop space, and rearranging the display galleries so that new temporary exhibitions can be held there. The sections where things happen behind the scenes will also be modified to make things run more smoothly.
The $3.5 million project gets money from many places, such as district contingency funds, the Convention and Sports Complex Fund, and a matching donation from the museum itself.
Stephenie Smith, chair of the museum’s board, said that the restoration will help the museum fulfill its objective and make it easier for it to serve both local and foreign visitors.
“We are excited to amplify our mission through this restoration project,” said Stephenie Smith. “Improving the American Jazz Museum is a critical step in strengthening our ability to serve our community and visitors from around the world who come to Kansas City to experience jazz history at one of America’s great jazz crossroads.”
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The American Jazz Museum has been recognizing jazz as a uniquely American art form since it opened in 1997. It has done this through exhibitions, research opportunities, education programs, and live performances. The planned improvements will keep that tradition alive while making the venue more suitable for future audiences.
