Ford and Ford-UAW are stepping up to preserve a part of Motor City history by making a big investment in the Motown Museum. Together, they're donating $6 million to the museum's $50 million expansion.
As part of the Ford and Ford-UAW investment, the expanded Motown Museum will include:
- Ford Motor Company Theater, a state-of-the-art performance venue
- Educational, music and other programming tied to Ford’s ongoing student and community outreach initiatives
- CARaoke Experience, in which visitors take part in an interactive Ford-branded activity that incorporates music with Ford vehicles
Ford will also be the official vehicle of Motown Museum.
“We are thrilled to play a role in the next chapter of a global music icon,” said Joe Hinrichs, president, The Americas, Ford Motor Company. “The enhanced museum will not only upgrade the visitor experience, it also fits with our commitment to investing in the cultural heritage of Detroit and southeast Michigan.”
“It is very gratifying to support the expansion of the Motown Museum, and in doing so, we strengthen an institution that has great historical and cultural significance to our region and the world,” said Jimmy Settles, vice president, UAW. “This partnership also allows us to continue our commitment to the Motown Museum’s surrounding community, which is a community that many Detroit natives treasure.”
“Motown and Ford Motor Company have wide and deeply connected roots,” said Robin R. Terry, chairwoman and CEO, Motown Museum. “As two Detroit born brands, they have had -- and continue to have today -- a transformative and profound impact on creativity and innovation around the world.
“We are honored by the commitment that Ford Motor Company and UAW-Ford have made toward this exciting expansion,” said Terry. “As the lead donors and committed partners in our vision, their support will help us bring a first class destination to Detroit and the world, and will ensure that this important musical and cultural legacy is preserved and positioned to inspire the next generation of creative and innovative minds.”
The museum is the location of the famous Hitsville U.S.A. house and Studio A, where Motown Records changed the music industry forever.
