Cultural Heritage Center Timeline
Coming soon.Birthplace of Country Music Alliance Unveils Conceptual Plan for Cultural Heritage Center
The new facility will include temporary and permanent exhibits that trace the history, cultural influences, and development of country music through a sequence of audio-visual experiences which will allow visitors the opportunity to listen to the melodies and encounter the rich musical tradition first hand. The facility will also include space for educational initiatives through educational programming for all ages, live musical performances, lecture and film series, and other outreach activities.The renovated structure will provide BCMA with a permanent facility to house its operations in furtherance of the organizations mission, To tell the story of the musical and cultural heritage of the region, its role in the birth and development of country music, and its influence on music around the world.
The new Cultural Heritage Center will attract over 75,000 annual visitors with an economic impact of over $43,232,806 over five years. Officials estimate the total cost of the project at $9,504,000; including for $1,463,000 design, $4,100,000 for construction, and for $3,941,000 exhibits.
According to a recent economic impact study produced by the University of Virginias Weldon Cooper Center, over a five year period, the new Birthplace of Country Music Cultural Heritage Center will, at a minimum, have an economic impact of over $43,232,806 to the region and generate $1,041,253 in direct tax revenue that will flow into local and state coffers.
Birthplace of Country Music Alliance announces plans for new Cultural Heritage Center to be established in downtown Bristol
The 1924 Goodpasture Motors Building, thanks to a gift from Steve Johnson of Johnson & Associates, will soon house the Birthplace of Country Music Cultural Heritage Center Bristol, VA-TN (Sept. 2, 2004) At a press conference this morning, officials from the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance (BCMA) announced the donation by prominent Bristol businessman Mr. Steve Johnson of Johnson and Associates, of the building and land at 520 Cumberland Street, Bristol, Virginia, to the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance. This landmark 24,000 square-foot structure — located on the south east corner of the intersection of Cumberland and Moore Streets — will become the future home of the Birthplace of Country Music Cultural Heritage Center, housing the organization's museum, as well as serving as aThe 24,000 square-foot structure was built in 1924 as the Goodpasture Motors Building and formerly housed a number of businesses including the American Automobile Association, and most recently the Palace Barber Shop, Union Shoe Repair, and Tate's News Stand. Constructed of reinforced concrete with muted multi-colored glazed brick exterior walls, the building is listed as a contributing structure to the Bristol Downtown Historic District. The building is directly across the street from Bud Walling Memorial Park and is located conveniently near the heart of downtown Bristol within easy walking distance of the new Bristol Library, the Paramount Center for the Arts, the 1902 Bristol Train Station, the Post Office, the "Birth of Country Music" mural at the Downtown Center, both City Halls, and other downtown businesses, attractions, and amenities.
After organizing the Appalachian musical portion of the 2003 Smithsonian Folklife Festival, the BCMA revisited its mission statement and made the determination that its next step was to find an adequate permanent home for the organization in order to further fulfill its mission. Through grants provided by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, the Tennessee Arts Commission, and the National Endowment for the Arts Traditional Arts Growth Fund, museum consultants were retained to assist in determining a plan of action and to aid in the complex process of implementing the plan.
Bill Hartley, BCMA Executive Director, gestures toward the new building as he addresses local government officials, arts organization representatives, and donor Steve Johnson "As far back as 1971 with the dedication of the monument on State Street near the site of the Bristol Sessions, this community has recognized the need for a country music museum downtown. Today, we take the first step in fulfilling that long-standing goal," noted BCMA Executive Director Bill Hartley. As a result of this plan of action, BCMA representatives met with Mr. Johnson who immediately recognized the need of the organization for a permanent home and the sizable benefit of the BCMA establishing its home in downtown Bristol. "By his generous donation, Steve Johnson has made the leap of faith necessary for the BCMA to begin planning and fund-raising for the new Cultural Heritage Center. We are extremely appreciative of Mr. Johnson's generous gift. This is about community pride in our culture and our heritage — who we are as a people and how others will see us," Hartley continued, "As we move forward, we welcome the support of the community, other organizations, and individuals within the region to make this Cultural Heritage Center a reality." According to BCMA President Greg Wallace, "Our studies show tThe BCMA wishes to note the fortuitous timing of the gift since until now, it was the only major venue out of seven designated along "The Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail" that did not have its own permanent home. "The Crooked Road" is a major tourism/economic development initiative signed into law by Virginia Governor Mark Warner in May 2004 that establishes a route from Ferrum in the east, through nine counties, to Clintwood in the west. The route connects seven designated musical hotspots along the route including the BCMA Museum in Bristol. Bristol's prime location as a hub city along an interstate highway, and close proximity to another Crooked Road venue — the Carter Fold in Scott County — makes it important as a feeder for tourists both entering and leaving the Crooked Road via I-81, and the BCMA plans to capitalize on that strategic advantage. "Ralph Peer and Ernest Stoneman chose Bristol as a location for the recording sessions in 1927 because of its excellent location as a regional hub," says Hartley, "and with the advent of the interstate highway system that is even more so today. The BCMA Cultural Heritage Center will serve as a major regional attraction for tourists traveling on both the interstate and along the Crooked Road."
BCMA President Greg Wallace: "The future is bright."Nancy Baker DeFriece, chair of the Tennessee Arts Commission, announces a Technical Assistance Grant will be awarded to the BCMA while Steve Johnson and Bristol, TN mayor Jim Messimer look on At the press conference, Nancy Baker DeFriece, Chair of the Tennessee Arts Commission, announced that the Tennessee Arts Commission will award the BCMA a $5000 technical assistance grant to assist in the planning phase of the Cultural Center. "We are very humbled by the support and encouragement we are receiving from every corner, even at this nascent stage of the project. Everyone we have talked with is very excited. As an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, we have the potential to make this a world-class Cultural Heritage Center, and in doing so, we are helping make Bristol a year-round tourist destination," said Hartley. Steve Johnson, donor of the building to the BCMA, tells the gathering he thinks the organization's move downtown "just makes sense", while BCMA Director Bill Hartley and President Greg Wallace listen "This just makes sense," said Steve Johnson, donor of the building and land. "This is where they should be, and I'm happy to help them achieve that. The potential for this center as a tipping-point for downtown, the community, and the region is enormous. I'm proud that I can help them get this started, and I hope that others who are able to help will follow my lead. This is a good organization — their hearts are in the right place — and I wish them all the success in the world." The Birthplace of Country Music Alliance (BCMA), based in Bristol, TN/VA, was formed on April 7, 1994 and established as a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation in 1996, and is dedicated to calling attention to the crucial role played by artists from East Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and the southern Appalachian region in country, bluegrass, and other musical and cultural avenues which have been nurtured by this region. Steve Johnson (right) of Johnson & Associates presents BCMA president Greg Wallace the deed to the property at 520 Cumberland Street which will house the Birthplace of Country Music Cultural Heritage Center
BCMA Announces Planning Team for Cultural Heritage Center
At a press conference on April 6, 2005, officials from the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance (BCMA) will announced the planning team, consisting of architects, museum designers, and museum planners, for the new Birthplace of Country Music Cultural Heritage Center."For the past seven months, we have been working hard to get this project off the ground," noted Birthplace of Country Music Alliance President Greg Wallace. "Today we take another step forward to making this project a reality."
In September 2004, the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance announced that local businessman Steve Johnson donated a 24,000 square foot historic structure in downtown Bristol, Virginia. In the seven months that have followed, the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance has received over $210,000 in funding for the planning phase of the project.
Members of the planning team include architects Peyton Boyd of Abingdon, Virginia and Harry McKinney, of Bristol, Virginia who will provide design services. Both Boyd and McKinney have experience on a number of local projects, including projects with arts/cultural organizations, community spaces, and historic structures. Among the past projects the two have completed include the William King Regional Arts Center Abingdon, Virginia; Barter Theatre, Abingdon, Virginia; and Capitol Theatre, Greeneville, Tennessee.
LaPaglia and Associates of Murfreesboro, Tennessee will provide interpretive services through the development of an interpretative master plan. LaPaglia and Associates is an independent consulting firm providing expert assistance to museums and other cultural organizations throughout the United States. Among the past projects that they have completed include the International Bluegrass Music (IBMA) Museum, American Jazz Museum, Delta Blues Museum, the Louisville Slugger Museum, and the National Civil War Museum. Joseph Nicholson and Robert McCauley of Ueland, Junker, McCauley, and Nicholson (UJMN) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania will assist LaPaglia and Associates by providing museum design services.
"Each of these consultants brings a certain area of expertise to this project," noted Bill Hartley, Executive Director of the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance. Hartley added that the organization selected the consultants based on their expertise with historic rehabilitation, nationally recognized cultural institutions, and other music museums.
By the end of the summer, the planning team will provide the organization with schematic drawings, artist renderings, and conceptual plan. "These are the tools that we need to show elected officials, business leaders, potential donors, and members of our community to convey the vision and potential that this project has for downtown Bristol and our region."
Upon completion, the cultural heritage center will provide the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance with a new, permanent facility to house its operations, including the museum, educational programs, and artistic programming, in furtherance of the organization’s mission. The Birthplace of Country Music Alliance estimates that the new facility will draw over 75,000 visitors annually with an estimated direct economic impact to the community of over $5.4 million.
The Birthplace of Country Music Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to telling the story of the living musical heritage of the Appalachian mountains and the cultural traditions that sustain it. The BCMA is funded in part by grants from the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the Tennessee Arts Commission. For more information, call (276) 645-0111.
Related News Articles:
Bristol Herald Courier
April 7, 2005
Johnson City Press
April 11, 2005
Birthplace of Country Music Alliance begins pre-construction improvements to site of Cultural Heritage Center
On August 6, 2008, officials from the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance announced that the organization will begin pre-construction activities at the site of the future Birthplace of Country Music Cultural Heritage Center, located at 520 Cumberland Street, Bristol, Virginia. These activities will include the demolition of existing partitions, walls, and clean-up of the interior of the building; replacing the structure’s roof; and development of construction documents."These improvements will enable the organization to move towards starting construction activities in early 2009," commented Bill Hartley, Executive Director. Hartley noted that the demolition and clean-up of the interior of the building will allow the architects to complete a survey of the building necessary for construction drawings. In addition to the demolition, the replacement of the roof will allow the organization to prevent any further deterioration to the structure of the building before construction begins. "By doing this work now, it will save the organization time and money, allowing us to quickly move into construction next year." Hartley added that the work is also a tangible demonstration of the progress being in the planning of the facility. "This is something that the community can see as visible progress and an improvement to the facility."
Funding for these activities is made possible by a recent grant from the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission. "We appreciate the support of the Virginia Tobacco Commission is assisting us with this phase of the project," commented Hartley. Hartley added that in their evaluation of the grant proposal, the commission staff commented that "the resulting plans and broad community support are reflected in a game plan for a high quality facility that will be a significant visitor destination."
The Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission is a 31-member body created by the 1999 General Assembly. It has, as a significant part of its mission, the promotion of economic growth and development in tobacco-dependent communities. To date, the Commission has awarded 973 grants totaling more than $432 million across the tobacco region of the Commonwealth. For complete information on all of the Commission’s history, mission, funding programs and past awards, visit our website at www.tic.virginia.gov.
The Birthplace of Country Music Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to telling the story of the living musical heritage of the Appalachian mountains and the cultural traditions that sustain it. The Birthplace of Country Music Alliance is funded in part by grants from the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the Tennessee Arts Commission. For more information about the cultural heritage center project, click here
