We love having the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) in Nashville and there is a new and exciting exhibit coming that you will need to check out!
NMAAM received a grant of 2,500,000 from Lily Endowment Inc., an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation that supports the causes of community development, education, and religion. NMAAM will use the funds to create an exhibit dedicated to a showcase of rare, never displayed articles of the Fisk Jubilee Singers, known for their impact on African American Spirituals in Nashville and beyond.
“We are very excited about this amazing exhibit and the partnership with NMAAM. There is no doubt, this exhibit will introduce the unprecedented history and impact of the Fisk Jubilee Singers to new audiences across the country.” -Fisk University Interim President Frank Sims.
The Fisk Jubilee Singers began touring in 1871 singing “slave songs” and continue touring to this day, preserving this unique musical tradition and breaking racial barriers. They have performed for Kings, Queens, the U.S. Embassy and more, collecting accolades, like the 2008 National Medal of Arts, along the way while making an impact for the culture.
You can expect the exhibit to transport you to a performance by the Fisk Jubilee Singers. The exhibition will include a circular space and acoustical treatments that will create an ideal setting for visitors to enjoy six spirituals recorded by the 2019 members of the troupe. The songs will fill the entire exhibition so that visitors can tour the perimeter chronological exhibits and still experience the music.
NMAAM is the only museum dedicated to preserving and celebrating the many music genres created, influenced, and inspired by African Americans. With a mission to educate the world, preserve the legacy, and celebrate the central role African Americans play in creating the American soundtrack, the Fisk Jubilee Singers exhibit is a perfect fit. Since its opening, NMAAM continues to welcome guests from across the country to Nashville and is one of Music City’s top must-see tourist destinations.
Fisk University and NMAAM maintain an important relationship built on the foundation of sharing black culture and music around the world. We are excited to see this exhibit do the same!
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