Funding Deadline Looms, Georgia Music Hall of Fame Future Still Undecided

The Georgia Music Hall of Fame Authority Board voted to postpone any decision on the museum’s future for another 2 weeks. In a 5 to 2 vote, members decided to give Macon another chance to revise a plan to keep the museum open for another 3 years. According to the board members, 3 years is too long.

Board members created a negotiations committee. The committee consists of three board members. The committee will have two weeks to talk with the foundations in Macon that pledged money.

The Peyton Anderson Foundation pledged $750,000 to keep the museum in Macon under the conditions that it would stay open for three years, and that a new group would be created to oversee the museum.

However,·board members say they only want the museum open for 1 year and the board to stay in control.

According to Executive Director of the Peyton Anderson Foundation, Juanita Jordan, the organization does not plan to fund the museum for just one year.

Bibb County Chairman Sam Hart agrees. “I think it would be a waste of money if we’re just looking at a year, because there is no way they could demonstrate and put into place the resources needed to sustain it,” says Hart.

If negotiations fail the museum’s collection of more than 30,000 items will be sent to the University of Georgia and be placed into storage.
The museum’s funding runs out on June 30th.