Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sport Olivia Grange broke ground for the construction of a new, purpose-built Jamaica Music Museum on Sunday, August 31, 2025.

The future home is the corner of East and Tower streets in downtown Kingston.

Grange, who launched the project and brought it into operation in 2009, said the new facility would be “a living, monumental edifice that will reflect the past, present, and future” of Jamaica’s music.

She said the new Jamaica Music Museum home will be a “state-of-the-art building that will showcase a more expanded collection, a museum that resonates with pulsating performances and Jamaican cultural expressions”.

The Jamaica Music Museum began in the corridors of the Institute of Jamaica and is now housed in the Tower Street gallery.

The minister said she hoped the new facility would “inspire both present and future generations to continue imagining, innovating, and creating as we embark on building our museum and continue this melodious journey”.

Also on Sunday morning, Minister Grange officially opened two new exhibitions at the Institute of Jamaica — The African to Jamaican: Music and Creolized Black Culture and the Natural History Museum’s permanent exhibition gallery outfitted with captivating examples of Jamaican biodiversity.

Also addressing the ground-breaking event were executive director of the Institute of Jamaica Michele Creed Nelson and the director/curator of the Jamaica Music Museum Herbie Miller.

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange (right) applauds after unveiling a sign at the future home of Jamaica Music Museum on Sunday, August 31, 2025 at the corner of Tower and East streets. Sharing the moment (from left) are deputy director (acting) of Institute of Jamaica, Faith Anderson; executive director of Institute of Jamaica Michele Creed Nelson; and director/curator of the Jamaica Music Museum Herbie Miller.