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National Guitar Museum

Touring guitar exhibition From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The National Guitar Museum (NGM) is a museum dedicated to the guitar's history, evolution, and cultural impact; and to promoting and preserving the guitar's legacy. The NGM addresses the history of the guitar as it has evolved from ancient stringed instruments to the wide variety of instruments created over the past 200 years. It focuses on the guitar's inventors, innovators, and influential players, along with the science and technology behind the guitar's construction, shape, and sound.

EstablishedMay 7, 2008; 18 years ago (2008-05-07)
TypeMusic
FounderHP Newquist
Executive Director
HP Newquist
Quick facts Established, Type ...
National Guitar Museum
EstablishedMay 7, 2008; 18 years ago (2008-05-07)
TypeMusic
FounderHP Newquist
Executive Director
HP Newquist
CuratorsRich Maloof and Pete Prown
Websitenationalguitarmuseum.com
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The NGM does not have a permanent location, but rather exhibits its collection in a touring format.

Overview

The museum was founded by author and former Guitar magazine editor-in-chief HP Newquist, who serves as its executive director. It is the first museum to focus solely on all aspects of the guitar and to include instruments from most of the world's stringed instrument manufacturers. The NGM's collection focuses on representative instruments from a vast array of historical makers and modern luthiers.

The NGM's board of advisors includes guitarists Tony Iommi, Steve Howe, Steve Vai, Ritchie Blackmore, Liona Boyd, Al Di Meola, and Joe Bonamassa. Johnny Winter served on the board prior to his death. Curators include guitar industry veterans Rich Maloof and Pete Prown.[1][2]

History

In 2011, the NGM collection began touring the United States in a variety of exhibitions.

In 2012, it was announced that at the completion of its exhibition tours, one U.S. city was expected to be chosen as the permanent home of the National Guitar Museum.[3] As of 2024, as a result of the ongoing tours, a permanent home for the NGM has still not been chosen.

Touring exhibitions

"GUITAR: The Instrument That Rocked The World"

"GUITAR: The Instrument That Rocked The World" exhibit.

In February 2011, the NGM launched its first touring exhibit, entitled "GUITAR: The Instrument That Rocked The World," which began with previews outside New York City.[4] The national rollout was in Orlando, Florida, on June 11, 2011. The exhibit traveled to sites across the United States from 2011 to 2022.[5][6][7]

The hosts for the GUITAR Exhibit:

"Medieval To Metal: The Art & Evolution Of The GUITAR"

The NGM curates a touring art exhibition, "Medieval To Metal: The Art & Evolution Of The GUITAR." It debuted at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wisconsin in February 2015. It has since been presented at more than a dozen art museums in the United States, including:

"America At The Crossroads: The GUITAR And A Changing Nation"

"America At The Crossroads: The GUITAR And A Changing Nation" is an NGM exhibition focused on U.S. history. It uses the guitar as emblematic, and representative, of pivotal national events. It debuted in January 2023 at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum in Grand Rapids, MI.

Venues

"SHAPE SHIFTING: The GUITAR As Modern ARTifact"

"SHAPE SHIFTING: The GUITAR As Modern ARTifact" is an NGM exhibition focused on the design and evolution of the electric guitar since the 1930s. It follows the creation of the electric guitar and its various shapes, materials, and colors over the past century while presenting it as one of the most important pop culture icons of the past 70 years. It debuted in September 2025 at the Museum Of Texas Tech.

Venues

Lifetime achievement award

The NGM presents an annual "Lifetime Achievement Award" to a guitarist who has been instrumental to the legacy of the guitar.[11] The recipients to date have been:


See also

References

External links

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