The National African American Jazz Legacy Museum celebrates the history of African American Classical Music/Jazz
“PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE” CAMPAIGN SUMMARY
FOR THE NATIONAL EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN JAZZ LEGACY MUSEUM"
1.
“Past, Present and Future”:
“Past, Present and Future”, is a campaign for United People for Armstrong Park and the community at large to build a national museum of national importance in the Armstrong Park/Congo Square. The museum will honor the art form of blues and jazz, a God given gift to African-Americans from god- a gift African Americans passed on from slave ancestors from Africa and brought to New Orleans, the mecca of this legendary music which has spread to all of America and the whole world.
Our campaign, ''Past, Present and Future", will utilize historically significant property located in Armstrong Park in New Orleans, LA and will house a historical blues and jazz museum. Armstrong Park is highly significant because of Congo Square, a location where historically slaves used on Sundays as a place to dance, play music and exhibit musical expression.
The museum will be used to house collections of written history, offer cultural programs, art exhibits, house artifacts and provide educational programming and childrens workshops. The museum will create a meaningful and accessible resource in the cultural development of the world’s archive of music and the arts. It will also honor and maintain the world’s rich history of blues and jazz while using the museum's archives and resources to enrich the lives of all people now for future generations to come.
We will all work closely with the other 49 States and numerous Countries abroad because blues and jazz spread throughout this land and the entire world. All States in the United States of America and many other countries produced blues and jazz greats. We want to celebrate all of them. We want to share all information collected and archived with the world.
Our campaign provides this world with the necessary ingredients that are needed to establish a permanent presence for this historical landmark maintaining the very origins of Jazz and Blues, this very creative and important music in human history.
America has produced many greats. We will use their history and legacies to inspire and motivate ourselves and future generations with the many stories to be told through existing music and art.
Additionally, we will provide opportunities for musicians/artists to create, refine, perform and exhibit their work. We will do this by presenting artistic works of all genres and periods, preserve historically and other significant works of music, art and cultural traditions. By doing this, we will enable music organizations and artists to expand and diversify their audiences, provide opportunities for people to experience and participate in a wide range of music/art forms and activities and employ music/art in strengthening communities.
Historically, slaves in Louisiana used Congo Square as a place on Sundays for artistic expression. Nowhere else were the enslaved people in North America allowed to leave their oppression for the momentary freedom to commune with others like themselves in music, dance and song. As there is no museum currently at the location, there is an urgency to acquire and harness it to ensure that it will be around for future generations wanting to know the history behind it. It seems to be waiting on us to step up to the plate and make it happen. Where else in America would be as important as or more appropriate than the Louis Armstrong Park/Congo Square in New Orleans, LA? Now is the time...........the whole music world will be committed to help........
WHY MUST YOU CONSIDER SUPPORTING THIS CAMPAIGN?
As a cultural group, Americans, the descendants of former slaves and slave owners as well as recent immigrants to America lack knowledge about the history and the origin of blues and jazz. Without maintaining this important part of history, the oppression and injustice of the past associated with the formation of blues and jazz, will also continue to be repeated. Since New Orleans is the mecca for this art form, it makes sense to create a museum here to educate those generations. For this purpose, we need a place for expression, art exhibits, dance workshops, writer workshops, visual art classes, visiting artists, performers, etc., to serve the public. The rich history of blues and jazz has a very important place in the long lists of American Music Genre’s- it is the foundation of all of our music and we need a place to house this history in order to relay it to current and future generations.
For the above historical reasons, the Congo Square location is very important to us. It is in the location where the museum would be located at the Armstrong Park in New Orleans, LA.
WHAT WILL THE HISTORICAL AFRICAN-AMERICAN BLUES AND JAZZ MUSEUM LOOK LIKE?
Two historical houses in rear:
Art house/children workshops and creativity
Gift shop/meetings/office space
OUR GOALS:
To collect, exhibit, stimulate appreciation for and advance knowledge of works of music, history, art, culture, preserve, study, aspire to excellence and give service to the public.
We would like to consult with an architect to get best use of total space of 4 buildings to discuss with him or her what building will be used for. We would also like to use local volunteers to bring the buildings up to city code. We want the building to be used for preservation of collections, exhibits, gallery, gift shop, small performances, workshop space, lectures, small gatherings, storage, administrative office and a classroom.
IN ORDER TO FULFILL OUR MISSION THESE ELEMENTS MUST BE ESTABLISHED:
TRUSTEES - a group that is committed to ensuring the success of the aspect of the museum/buildings' mission
STAFF- staff on all levels and in all sectors of the museum to volunteer, facilitate professional growth and development with the use of interns
FACILITIES- establish and maintain a superior environment for collections providing rewarding experiences for visitors and maximize use of all museum space to support our mission
FINANCE- meet the needs of museum programs, provide support such as salaries, maintenance, capital fundraising, maintenance record in endowment management and achieve a balanced budget
Peace Be With You
To establish a National Jazz Museum in New Orleans, LA along with supporting surrounding facilities.
Ms. Rosetta Funches
Oklahoma Black Museum and Performing Arts Center
Dr. Ron Myers
National Association of Juneteenth Jazz Presenters (NAJJP)
African American Jazz Caucus (AAJC)
(662) 392-2016
www.africanamericanjazzlegacymuseum.com
aajlm.com
Ideas and Volunteers needed!
