Delta Blues Press Release
March 18, 2020
COVID-19 RESPONSE: Delta Blues Museum to Temporarily Close Beginning March 18th
Clarksdale, Mississippi
An Important Message from Museum Director Shelley Ritter
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
[Clarksdale, Mississippi - March 18, 2020] - Out of abundant concern for our staff, volunteers, students, visitors and other guests, Delta Blues Museum will temporarily close beginning WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18th through THURSDAY, APRIL 2nd. Any scheduled events during this time will also be rescheduled. Additionally, our Arts & Education classes will be cancelled during this time.
It is our hope to reopen on FRIDAY, APRIL 3rd to kick off Muddy Waters Month at the Museum. We will, of course, be closely monitoring the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis in the interim and will make operational decisions as warranted.
Music can be a comfort at this time: For those in self-imposed quarantine or who may be sheltering in place, we hope you will explore our website and enjoy our "Explore and Learn" interactive series on several Blues greats and the art form the world has come to know and love. Or check out our Featured Videos & Podcasts. If you're looking to expand your music collection, please visit our Online Shop for a wide variety of Blues albums and collections.
At the Museum, we have reinforced our public health practices and policies to maintain a sanitary and safe environment in our public spaces. For our current public health policies, please visitwww.deltabluesmuseum.org. The Museum is lucky to have a building design that provides large, open spaces for our visitors. Once reopened, we will ask that guests remain mindful of "social distancing" and take advantage of our publicly-available sanitization products.
We will keep you updated on any and all changes during this time and regret any convenience. On behalf of the Museum, we send our very best to those who have been affected by the pandemic and hope to see you all very soon, in the land where Blues began.
Museum Director, Shelly Ritter
About the Delta Blues Museum
Established in 1979 by the Carnegie Public Library Board of Trustees and re-organized as a stand-alone museum in 1999, the Delta Blues Museum is Mississippi's oldest music museum. A 2013 recipient of the IMLS National Medal for Museum and Library Services - the nation's highest honor for museum and library service to the community - and a 2014 recipient of the National Arts & Humanities' Youth Program Award, the Delta Blues Museum is dedicated to creating a welcoming place where visitors find meaning, value and perspective by exploring the history and heritage of the unique American musical art form, the Blues. The Museum is also recognized as a Great River Road Interpretive Center.
The "Delta Blues Foundation" is
a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that supports
the work of Delta Blues Museum. All funds solicited through
the Delta Blues Foundation are raised to benefit the Delta
Blues Museum. On-line tax deductible contributions to the
Delta Blues Foundation include the Deeper Roots program
and the General Fund (a monetarily unrestricted contribution
made to the foundation in support of the museum). Memberships
and the Buy a Brick program are funded directly to the Delta
Blues Museum and are not considered tax deductible.
For more information on events or programs, please call (662) 627-6820, or visit the Museum web site at www.deltabluesmuseum.org.
Members of the press may register in the press room on the Museum's website to access further information, downloadable images and related materials.

About the Delta Blues Museum
Established in 1979 by the Carnegie Public Library Board of Trustees and re-organized as a stand-alone museum in 1999, the Delta Blues Museum is Mississippi's oldest music museum. A 2013 recipient of the IMLS National Medal for Museum and Library Services - the nation's highest honor for museum and library service to the community - and a 2014 recipient of the National Arts & Humanities' Youth Program Award, the Delta Blues Museum is dedicated to creating a welcoming place where visitors find meaning, value and perspective by exploring the history and heritage of the unique American musical art form, the Blues. The Museum is also recognized as a Great River Road Interpretive Center.
The "Delta Blues Foundation" is a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that supports the work of Delta Blues Museum. All funds solicited through the Delta Blues Foundation are raised to benefit the Delta Blues Museum. On-line tax deductible contributions to the Delta Blues Foundation include the Deeper Roots program and the General Fund (a monetarily unrestricted contribution made to the foundation in support of the museum). Memberships and the Buy a Brick program are funded directly to the Delta Blues Museum and are not considered tax deductible.
For more information on events or programs, please call (662) 627-6820, or visit the Museum web site at www.deltabluesmuseum.org.
Members of the press may register in the press room on the Museum's website to access further information, downloadable images and related materials.
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This newsletter is supported in part by funding from the Mississippi Arts Commission, a state agency, and, in part, from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
This site is made possible through support from the Mississippi Arts Commission, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Rock River Foundation.
This site made possible through the support of Mississippi Arts Commission, National Endowment for the Humanities and the Rock River Foundation.
Support for the Delta Blues Foudation, Inc has been provided by explore.org, a direct charitable activity of the Annenberg Foundation.
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Museum Contact information
Clarksdale, MS 38614
Phone: 662-627-6820
Email: info@deltabluesmuseum.org