The Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture in downtown Tulsa, known as OKPOP, has set a fundraising goal of $30 million so it can open to the public by late 2024.
According to an article in the Tulsa World, the museum’s foundation is assembling a campaign Cabinet of influential and noteworthy Oklahomans.
The Oklahoma Legislature in 2015 provided $25 million in revenue bonds but has shown little interest in adding more.
The foundation has identified potential funding sources through state and federal allocations, local and national prospective donors, foundations, corporations, grants and founding memberships. The foundation’s funds will help OKPOP design and build exhibits, provide financial support for the first three years, fund endowments to ensure long-term stability, and continue to acquire and maintain collections. […]
Kurin indicated that priorities for funding include exhibit design and construction, security, programming, signs, community outreach and accessibility.
She shared figures from a Tulsa Regional Chamber 2019 impact report that estimated that OKPOP will add $36.5 million to the local economy annually.
The interactive museum will pay tribute to writers, musicians, actors, filmmakers, television stars and others who were born in Oklahoma or hold deep ties to the Sooner State.
The museum is being built at 422 N. Main St., across from the venerable Cain’s Ballroom venue. It is two blocks west of the Detroit Avenue alignment of Route 66.
Downtown Tulsa already contains notable museums devoted to music icons Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan.
(Artist’s rendering of the future OKPOP museum coming to Tulsa)