Hey, everyone! Welcome back to Culture Canvas.
As the Motown Museum continues its $75 million expansion, the place where The Supremes, The Temptations and Marvin Gaye brought their songs to life shared an update on its process Monday, including a tentative opening date.
Visitors should be able to view the expanded museum by summer 2026, which includes nearly a 40,000-square-foot space that will house immersive and interactive exhibits, the Ford Motor Company Theater, an expanded retail experience and more, according to a news release. The expansion will be built behind the iconic Hitsville U.S.A. house, which has been the location of the museum since 1985.
Motown Museum released renderings of its new lobby featuring pictures of artists like Stevie Wonder, Gaye and Diana Ross. Another rendering depicts the restaurant Miss Lillie’s Motown Cafe in honor of Hitsville kitchen cook Lillian “Lillie” Hart.
A status update on the expansion campaign’s fundraising progress was also shared by Motown Museum Chairwoman and CEO Robin Terry.
“This is an incredibly exciting time for this project, with the past few months being full of important design details being finalized, leading us to this special moment allowing us to now share with our Detroit community and fans and visitors from around the world when they can step inside this one-of-a-kind experiential space,” Terry said in the news release. “Our expansion fundraising has now reached $70 million, nearing our final goal of $75 million.”
Construction on the third and final phase of the project begins this month and will be overseen by the Detroit firm L.S. Brinker.
I’m excited to see what the Motown Museum will look like when the project is completely finished and that the institution will have a bigger space to showcase all of the history and music that came out of Detroit’s famous studio.
As always, have a great week!
Cheers,
Micah
313 Scene
- The story on fiber artist Taylor Childs that I previewed in last week’s newsletter is out! Her installation “Apex” is on display at the LOVE Building throughout the month of September. The show is part of Detroit Month of Design, an annual event hosted by Design Core Detroit that celebrates the city’s arts and culture scene. In addition to the exhibit, Childs will host a fashion show from 8-10 p.m. Sept. 27 at the LOVE Building.
- R&B singer Usher visited the Dick and Sandy Dauch location of the Boys & Girls Club on Detroit’s west side last week ahead of concerts at Little Caesars Arena as part of Usher’s Club Takeover, a national partnership to drive awareness of the need to expand after-school programs.
- BridgeDetroit contributor J. Gabriel Ware reports on Detroit actress Shawntay Dalon and her new movie, “Crust.” Plus, freelance writer Dan Jones is lifting up Detroit’s small theater scene.
- The Michigan Science Center exhibit, “Tyrannosaurs–Meet the Family,” is opening Oct. 6. The display showcases a collection of tyrannosaur skeleton casts, fossils and life-size displays that will transport guests back millions of years to the Cretaceous Period when dinosaurs roamed the Earth.
What’s Going on in the D?
- Cinephiles will enjoy the return of the Noir City Film Festival Friday-Sunday at the Redford Theatre. Join Turner Classic Movies movie host and Film Noir Foundation President Eddie Muller as he presents three days of crime and detective films with an international theme. All screenings are double features, with a matinee and evening show on Saturday. Tickets are $15 for each screening or, for $55, guests can buy an all-access pass. The pass covers all eight films, a commemorative poster, early admission and a meet-and-greet and private reception with Eddie Muller.
- The Greektown Neighborhood Partnership is hosting its annual Greektown Heritage Festival 12-9 p.m. Saturday on Monroe Street. The free event will include music, traditional Greek dancers, food and drink, and family-friendly games.
- R&B singer Lalah Hathaway is bringing her “Vantablack” tour to the Sound Board at MotorCity Casino Hotel 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets start at $45 on Ticketmaster.
- The Detroit Institute of Arts is opening its new exhibit Sunday called, “The Art of Dining: Food Culture in the Islamic World.” The show will feature 230 works from the Middle East, Egypt, Central and South Asia and beyond to explore connections between art and cuisine from ancient times to the present day. General admission to the museum is free for residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.
