Bluegrass Museum Raising Funds

Fundraising for a proposed International Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro, Ky., has begun in earnest, with a goal of $7 million by March and beginning of construction in April.

The vision for the 60,000-square-foot complex includes a museum, indoor theatre, outdoor festival seating and bluegrass-themed restaurant. IBMM board chairman Terry Woodward says the group would like to create a Bluegrass Opry similar to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, along with stage music productions, a national bluegrass DJ convention and music film festival.

If goals are met, up to 100,000 bluegrass fans could visit Owensboro, Ky., annually by 2016, making an economic impact on the city of $25 million.

In addition to the Bluegrass Opry, the museum would be a regular stop during the summer bluegrass festival circuit in addition to the annual ROMP: Bluegrass Roots & Branches Festival.