St. Louis, MO, USA (December 17, 2015) — The National Blues Museum announced today that it has received a $40,000 grant from American Express to help with interior and exterior restoration of its 6th and Washington Avenue location in the Mercantile Exchange (MX) District.
As part of its Honor the Past-Build for the Future of the Blues campaign, the museum secured funding from both private and public supporters to help restore and renovate the 23,000 square foot facility. The museum houses artifact-driven exhibits and highly-interactive galleries, in addition to performance, classroom and special event spaces. “By awarding this grant to the museum, American Express demonstrates they understand the importance of historic preservation – not only for the building, but for the deep historic roots that Blues music holds in all American music,” said Dion Brown, the museum’s Executive Director.
Scheduled to open to the public on April 2, 2016, the museum will lead visitors through various Blues styles and trace its history and American music influence from the Mississippi Delta through St. Louis to Chicago, and its ultimate expansion across the U.S. and internationally. “We are expecting students and guests from all over the globe,” says Brown. “We want them to be inspired by not only what they learn, but by the feel of the physical space.”
“We are grateful to American Express and its support of The National Blues Museum”, said Rob Endicott, Chairman of the Board of Directors, and partner at the international law firm, Bryan Cave LLP. “Corporate partners who invest in the local community are vital to organizations like the museum. Through this grant, we were able to honor our commitment to the community by maintaining the historical integrity of the building.”
For more information on The National Blues Museum grand opening, programs and news, visit www.nationalbluesmuseum.org.