PLANS ARE being drawn, ground-work is being laid, items have been promised and hands and heart are joined together in the establishment of the Museum of Jamaican Music.Spearheaded by the Institute of Jamaica (IOJ), the museum is expected to be completed late next year and the launch of the fund-raising campaign is scheduled for July 13 on the proposed site at the Malabre House, 11 North Street, in Kingston.
Director of development and public relations, Clover Johnston, said recently that "the idea is accredited to Opposition Leader Edward Seaga who introduced the concept in the '70s, but was revived in May 1999 by IOJ chairman, Professor Barry Chevannes, who felt that a music museum would be an excellent way for the institute to continue to mirror Jamaican life."
The site at 11 North Street is an old mansion which once belonged to a wealthy merchant family and was the former home of the Jamaica School of Art.
This location is an interim facility as sights are still set on the Old Wray and Nephew building, 24 Port Royal Street, which was first identified as an ideal location by Mr. Seaga.
The mansion is to be renovated and architects have been invited to tender proposals. So far, the site has been cleared and cottages and out-houses on the property have been converted to studios which are presently occupied by artists.
Committee member in charge of finance for the renovation project, Wayne Chen, estimates that the project, including the renovation of the house will require about $100 million.
"So far, the infrastructural work has been done, but we've a long way to go," he said.
He also added that "the project can go as far as funding allows."
Mr. Chen said it was hoped to raise the money from multi-lateral organisations, but he anticipated overwhelming financial support from various sectors once the project got under way.
Tony Laing, member of the steering committee said the project has been met with great enthusiasm.
"We have contacted and have been promised the co-operation of many people. Alpha Boys band will be lending Don Drummond's trombone and other instruments. Roger Steffens of California, who owns the largest collection of Marley memorabilia is also excited and has promised to participate."
Among the committee members are Barbara Gloudon, Professor Rex Nettleford, Professor Ronald Young and Winston 'Merritone' Blake, with Mr. Seaga and Prime Minister P.J. Patterson as trustees.
Executive director of the institute, Vivian Crawford, explained that the "museum will be a mulit-faceted one [that] will allow us to tell the story of our music, about ourselves, by ourselves."
He also said that "in the long run the museum will have concert and recording facilities, audio library and extensive archives, but for now this is just a small start."
The Institute has started to collect artefacts, documents, testimonials and memorabilia which Mrs. Johnston has described as 'a mammoth task' because "although a lot has been written about our music, most of its history still resides in the hearts and minds of people."
Klao Bell
