Congressman Cohen Announces $100,000 Grant to the Soulsville Foundation

Image August 5, 2026 Press Release Support for a “Curator-in-Residence” Program WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that the Soulsville Foundation will receive a grant of $100,000 from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to implement a curator-in-residence program. The Stax Museum of American Soul Music program, according to IMLS, will be designed to strengthen the museum's interpretive capacity, expand access to its collections, and deepen scholarship related to African American music history and the global legacy of Stax Records. Each resident curator will conduct research using the museum’s archives and artifact collections; collaborate with staff to develop interpretive materials, exhibitions, and digital storytelling content; and lead public programs such as lectures, listening sessions, and youth workshops. Congressman Cohen made the following statement: “The Stax Museum is one of our city’s most prized cultural institutions. This grant funding, and the prestige it adds to the museum’s outreach efforts, will enhance its international reputation. I commend Soulsville Foundation President and CEO Pat Mitchell Worley and the entire staff of the museum for this significant and well-deserved recognition.” # # # Issues : 9th District Arts Economy and Jobs Education Memphis Shelby County Tennessee