Kha Huynh believed she was merely going to observe the Ice Dawgs debut at their state-of-the-art home arena. (A thrilling 4-3 overtime victory against the University of Tennessee, much appreciated.)

What she didn’t foresee was receiving a cultural education.

Visiting from Boston to see a high school friend, Huynh left with an enriched understanding of Georgia’s musical legacy, courtesy of the UGA Special Collections Libraries.

The 8,500-seat Akins Ford Arena at the Classic Center opened its doors in December on the eastern edge of downtown Athens. In addition to hosting the Ice Dawgs, it also accommodates the new Athens Rock Lobsters of the Federal Prospects Hockey League, as well as various concerts and events.

One of the most captivating features of the Akins Ford Arena is the Georgia Music Collections exhibition that wraps around the building’s concourses.

On a large video screen in the eastern concourse, B-52s icon and Athens local Cindy Wilson greets fans upon their arrival, encouraging them to delve into cases filled with memorabilia that spans a century of Georgia music and honors over 200 of the state’s musicians.

Instruments, shirts, shoes and boots, wigs, numerous photographs, and hundreds of posters and album covers are showcased. Beyond the displays, interactive elements invite fans to engage actively. Children (and the young-at-heart) can dance on a floor piano—reminiscent of the one featured in the Tom Hanks classic film Big—while composing their own melodies.

The Georgia Music Collections exhibit offers an unmatched opportunity to extend our work beyond the campus, engaging the community in the rich narrative of Georgia’s musical heritage.” — Ryan Lewis, Georgia music curator for the Special Collections Libraries

During a break in the Ice Dawgs’ debut on Jan. 20, Huynh explored the kiosks. She had just discovered the previous day that the B-52s originated from Athens and was familiar only with their hit, “Love Shack,” which limited her knowledge of the city’s musical classics. She found herself drawn to the kiosk titled “Making a Scene,” captivated by the avant-garde, Mondrian-inspired design of Cindy Wilson’s outfit.

“Just two minutes ago, I was unaware of Athens’s musical history,” Huynh remarked. “Now, I feel connected to the local scene.”

Filling the Displays

A decade ago, Paul Cramer, head of The Classic Center Authority, envisioned the yet-to-be-constructed arena as more than just a performance venue; he wanted it to embody the spirit of the Athens community. However, it wasn’t until a discussion with the UGA Special Collections Library that Cramer was inspired to focus on Georgia’s musical heritage.

ABJ ’07, vice president of sales, marketing, and tourism for The Classic Center. “Much of our state’s music laid the groundwork for what followed. Seeing these items displayed again is significant for many.”

UGA acquired most of the music collection in 2011 when the Georgia Music Hall of Fame closed its doors. The partnership between the Libraries and The Classic Center aimed to feature items from that collection at the new Athens arena even before construction began.

All that was required was someone to take the lead.

“The Georgia Music Collections exhibit presents a unique chance to share our work with the community, narrating the ever-evolving story of Georgia music history,” says Ryan Lewis, Georgia music curator for the Special Collections Libraries. “We aim to connect individuals with our mission in ways that resonate with them.”

In addition to the extensive Hall of Fame archives, the Georgia Music Collections have expanded to include remarkable items such as James Brown’s cape, along with notable objects on loan like Duane Allman’s guitar. There’s enough memorabilia to populate the Akins Ford displays for five years.

The launch of this exhibition has truly been a heartfelt endeavor for Lewis, who was appointed in January 2023 to bring it all to fruition. He created Spotify playlists tailored to the displays, composed trivia questions for the interactive “Do You Know Georgia Music?” kiosk, and collaborated with researchers to gather insights about Georgia musicians for presentation at an interactive digital station. With the arena now operational, Lewis conducts tours of the exhibition as part of the Classic City’s Third Thursday events.

The Georgia Music Collections and Akins Ford Arena together represent merely a portion of the Special Collections Libraries’ complete holdings. Cindy Wilson herself, as she wraps up her welcome message, invites attendees to delve deeper into Georgia’s music history by exploring the Libraries’ galleries.

The article Arena Show first appeared on UGA Today.