Just steps from where the legendary Motown sound was born, history met the future in a remarkable way. More than 150 guests, ranging from Motown alumni and community leaders to local youth and longtime supporters, gathered for an exclusive first look inside the Motown Museum’s newest gem: the Esther Gordy Edwards Centre for Excellence. The unveiling marked not just the opening of a building, but the continuation of a dream that began four decades ago with the museum’s visionary founder.
Robin Terry, Chairwoman and CEO of the Motown Museum and the granddaughter of Esther Gordy Edwards, the woman whose relentless drive transformed Berry Gordy’s humble recording house into a revered cultural landmark, was overwhelmed with emotion during her remarks.
“What better time to celebrate than the 40th anniversary? So this year’s the 40th anniversary of Motown museum.,” Terry said.
“Honoring my grandmother and everything that she stood for as it related to excellence with people that we love and care about. With everything else we have going on, we worked hard on this, and it is a special moment.”
Located at 2550 W. Grand Boulevard, the new 38,000-square-foot facility is a bold expansion of the museum’s mission. Designed to honor Edwards’ enduring legacy, the Centre for Excellence doubles down on the museum’s commitment to preservation through innovation, making it a hub for education, creative exploration, and community engagement.
The centre’s first floor is already buzzing with energy. As an extension of Hitsville NEXT, the museum’s youth development program, the space invites young creatives to workshop ideas, pitch business plans, rehearse, and collaborate. Whether it’s a poetry slam, a vocal session, or a mentorship meeting, the centre offers Detroit’s rising artists room to grow with purpose and pride.
Upstairs, the energy shifts to focus and scholarship. The second floor houses offices for museum staff, curators, and researchers, along with a dedicated archival and research space that will eventually open to students and academics interested in studying the impact and artistry of Motown.
Perhaps the most moving moment of the unveiling came from the voices of the future. Hitsville NEXT participants took the stage with stirring vocal and poetry performances that celebrated the museum’s impact and the richness of Detroit’s creative spirit. Their words and melodies brought the crowd to its feet, and served as living proof of what the centre is meant to cultivate.
Tristan Fisher, Artistic Director of Hitsville NEXT, highlighted this is Esther’s legacy in motion.
“We’re so thankful to be able to do our programming now in this space where we can stretch out and really, really, really do our thing in here,” Fisher said.
“It’s super full circle to be back here, because 20 years ago, I actually started out as a tour guide in 2006 I work here as a crew guy, so it’s a blessing for me now to be in this position, helping the next generation like me as a young person seeking support, seeking knowledge and seeking success.”
While the centre is a major milestone, it’s just one part of the museum’s ambitious evolution. A larger campus expansion, set to open in summer 2026, will further transform the grounds into a world-class cultural destination.
“I’m thrilled that this heart of the Motown Museum is lifting her up and all that she did, not only for the family but for people like me and others who were looking for folks to give them inspiration,” Debbie Stabenow
Former. United States Senator said.
In the meantime, the museum plans to roll out a series of events throughout 2025 to mark its 40th anniversary and to continue honoring Edwards’ life and work.
For Robin Terry, this moment is both deeply personal and powerfully communal.
“It has been 40 years since my grandmother turned her vision for Motown Museum into an international destination, national landmark and tremendous point of pride for the City of Detroit to commemorate where the culturally transformative Motown story was born,” Terry said.
“Four decades later, I am humbled and honored to continue to drive her vision forward as Motown Museum begins a new chapter with this building, with her legacy of excellence continuing to guide us every step of the way.”
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