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British Music Experience to
Rock Liverpool
LIVERPOOL'S reputation as the home City
of rock and pop heritage has been cemented as it welcomes Britain's only museum
of popular music.
The British Music Experience (BME) is heading to the City after a 5 year run at
London's O2 and will be making its new home in the iconic Cunard Building,
positioned as one of Britain's most compelling attractions.
Mayor Joe Anderson and BME Chairman Harvey Goldsmith CBE have joined forces to
bring the attraction to Liverpool, which will see more than 600 rare BME music
heritage archive items go on display in the former Departure Lounge location.
The unrivalled collection of music artefacts and memorabilia includes some of
David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust costumes and the original handwritten lyrics to
Blue Monday by New Order. The museum will also pay homage to the impact British
music has had on the culture, fashion, art and politics of the time.
Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, said:- "This is a fantastic addition to
the City's existing attractions and it makes perfect sense that a museum which
celebrates the importance of British music and its influence on society, has its
home in Liverpool.
Music is inherent here and is entwined with the City's history, present and
future. The Cunard Building itself played a vital role in shaping the industry
thanks to the music that travelled across the Atlantic by those travelling on
the Cunard Vessels. This music then immersed itself in our culture and
influenced many aspiring musicians, including four young men who wanted to
perform their own rock 'n' roll and then went on to become the most famous band
in the world.
It's wonderful to be able to work in partnership with such an influential figure
as Harvey and add another dimension to our tourism offer which will benefit
existing businesses and boost the local economy. Undoubtedly, BME will be hugely
popular as music is a major cultural driving force in the City and I look
forward to seeing the project taking shape over the forthcoming months."
The BME is expected to create around 35 jobs and attract thousands of new
visitors to the region. It will open Easter 2016.
Chair of the BME, Harvey Goldsmith, said:- "The trustees of the British
Music Experience are thrilled to have partnered with the City of Liverpool and
to have found a permanent home for the UK's collection of rock and pop
memorabilia and artefacts.
The historic Cunard Building on the shores of the Mersey represents the perfect
home. The transatlantic voyage and the back and forth shared between the UK and
USA plays a significant role in the story the Museum tells.
Liverpool is the natural home for the BME and we hope to enrich the City's
current music heritage offering and further solidify the City as a worldwide
music heritage destination."
Using the Museum's interactive approach, visitors will be able to trace historic
and era defining moments and experience what it may have felt like to be part of
them. An interactive instrument studio will allow people to unleash the rock 'n'
roll within them, others can learn how to Vogue in the dance booth or perhaps
flick through virtual record collections.
Tablets and smartphones can also be used to unlock the display cases and listen
to tracks, learning the secrets kept behind the glass doors.
With an amazing comprehensive archive of iconic images and footage, visitors can
immerse themselves in the history of British music, which created some of the
world's most influential artists.
The BME will also have a café and a shop providing a range of desirable music
and pop culture related products. From rock heritage merchandise to drumstick
pencils, the shop offers a range of price points and trendy retro music heritage
merchandise, including a curated selection of vinyl records.
Additionally, the BME will host Learning and Public Programmes to further enrich
the museum experience and reach, through a range of events; from educational
workshops for school children tied to the national curriculum, to master classes
and gigs hosted by industry experts. It will also offer a unique and engaging
venue for corporate events and after parties.
The British Music Experience is a registered not for profit charity with the
purpose of advancing the education and appreciation of the art, history and
science of music in Britain (registered charity no.1125752). The BME is managed
by an independent Board of Trustees and chaired by Harvey Goldsmith, CBE.
It is being partially funded by a £2.6m Regional Growth Fund investment.
A procurement process is underway to secure an operator to run the museum
alongside the Trust. The admission price for the tickets is to be decided in the
forthcoming months.
For further information on the BME please visit:-
BritishMusicExperience.Com.
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