State to allocate $500K to museum

The recent appropriation of $500,000 in new monies to Marty Stuart’s Congress of Country Music project is a good indication of the support it has in the state Legislature, Rep. C. Scott Bounds said.

“That was not an ‘ask’ that was put in by myself or Senator (Jenifer) Branning,” Bounds said. “It was dollars that the leadership of the Legislature put in. It will help toward the ultimate goal of completing the renovation work at the Ellis.”

Stuart, a native of Philadelphia, put on An Evening With Marty Stuart’s Congress of Country Music gala in Jackson last month. Members of the Legislature, including Lt. Gov. Philip Gunn, attended and expressed support for the project. Bounds said that probably didn’t hurt.

“I think so. Here again, the Legislature has been receptive to what is happening up here,” Bounds said. “This was some additional money we were able to put into it.”

Located on the south corner of Byrd Avenue and Main Street, when completed, the Congress of Country Music will feature a renovated Ellis Theater along with a museum to display Stuart’s 20,000-plus piece collection of country music memorabilia. There will also be classrooms, a community hall, event space and a rooftop performance venue.

While working with local school districts, the Congress of Country Music will create an education curriculum and programming to teach and promote the roots of country music. There will be changing displays which will not only spotlight Stuart’s collection. 

The center will also include showings of international traveled artifacts, memorabilia, photography, folk art and Native American programming.

“That is $500,000 that will go toward the completion of the Ellis Theater,” said Senator Branning. “If their resources in Phase I are adequate, then they can roll it into to Phase II.

“The cost of construction has gone up considerably. That was the intention, to keep up with inflation with that project because we don’t want to fall short. It was to help with the overall project.”