Georgia Music Hall of Fame Will Close

Officials say the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in downtown Macon is scheduled to close June 12.

The hall of fame’s authority board voted 4-3 Tuesday to close the museum next month after Macon agreed to fund the museum for 3 years.”I just can’t understand how this is a step forward for our music heritage in our state,” says NewTown Macon Executive Director·Mike Ford.··

Several authority board members wanted to keep the museum open saying· the state had nothing to lose.

Authorities say collections and memorabilia now at the museum will be moved to the University of Georgia.

According to Executive Director Lisa Love, the Tubman Museum in Macon is looking into keeping a few items from·the collection that represent Middle Georgia.

“Today’s decision is a difficult one and it’s sad, but I think today is also the day we move forward. Nothing here today, changes the fact that Macon, Georgia, is the birth place of American music,” says Love.

State funding for the museum ends June 30. The state had asked for proposals from cities to take over the museum’s operations and wound up rejecting bids from Macon, Athens, Dunwoody and Woodstock