GRAMMY Museum to open 1st overseas branch in China

The GRAMMY Museum will open its first international outlet outside the United States in Sanya, Hainan Province, within three years, its executive director said at a ceremony in Beijing on Monday.

A concept design photo shows how the GRAMMY Museum Sanya will look. [Photo / Hainan Daily]

The ceremony saw executives from the GRAMMY Museum, The Recording Academy, Beijing SEEC Culture Media Co., Sanya Municipal Government and China Music Vision jointly sign a cooperation agreement.

The GRAMMY Museum Sanya will have approximately 40,000 square feet of exhibit space, including a temporary exhibit gallery and a theater.

"We see the GRAMMY Museum in Sanya as the start of great musical exchanges, and the opportunity for Chinese tourists to come and learn more about how our music reflects America and American cultures," said Bob Santelli, the museum's executive director.

He expected it would also be used as an educational resource. "You can imagine going into this museum and learning how recordings are made, how songs are written and how great music is produced. All of these opportunities, through technology will be available to visitors," he said.

There was also a plan to hold various music festivals and activities, and explore Chinese music, he said, adding the hope that the GRAMMY Museum in the United States would eventually have an exhibition about Chinese music and Chinese musical culture.

Santelli said the GRAMMY Awards were over in one day, but, for the rest of the year, people could visit the museum to see and experience music history.