Next Year: A Jackson Museum

On Wednesday, Joe Jackson, Michael’s father, and the mayor of Gary, Indiana, in the United States, announced that starting next year, work will begin on a museum and a family arts center for the Jacksons with a $300 million budget on a 1.2 square kilometer plot of land in the city. The museum and arts center will be dedicated to Michael Jackson.

Michael last visited Gary in 2003 to discuss with city officials the construction of a museum. The plan had been under discussion for years, but before Michael’s death last June, no progress had been made.

Joe Jackson believes that by participating in this project, he will keep his son’s legacy alive: “Today is a day of happiness for me because this is what Michael and my family have always wanted.”

Gary mayor Rudy Clay says that this museum and arts center will create thousands of new jobs for Gary, and after opening it could attract at least 750,000 tourists per year and bring $100 to $150 million in revenue to the city: “This plan will pull people from all over the world here like a magnet.”

The budget for the Jackson family museum, hotels, halls, the performing arts center, and the cultural center will be provided through investments and donated amounts. The Jackson family institute also tries to cover part of this budget by selling magazines. In these magazines, Joe Jackson talks about his children—especially Michael.

Source: eMJey / AP