Oklahoma's Own In Focus: OKPOP Museum Faces Funding Challenges, Launches Campaign to Raise $18M

News On 6 is going In Focus on the effort to complete the Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture that's been ongoing for years now.

The OKPOP Museum is still millions of dollars away from being able to open its doors and had to lay off most of its employees earlier in 2024 until the museum is fully funded.

The project was approved before the pandemic and has gone through years of financial uncertainty and is costing much more than the original estimate.

The groundbreaking took place in 2019 using $24 million in taxpayer money. The museum estimates it could take another $36 million to create the exhibition spaces.

Now, the OKPOP Museum has launched another phase of fundraising to complete the building at 422 North Main.

An $18 million state appropriation depends on the museum foundation raising another $18 million privately. The OKPOP Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit, announced Monday it has raised $8.6 million, with a deadline to raise the rest one year from now.

“Tulsa is on the clock,” said Oklahoma Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell. 

“After all the work that so many have done, to get us where we are today, let's finish strong,” said Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum.

Supporters of OKPOP now have the goal in sight, after years of financial ups and downs that led to staff layoffs in August, leaving just four employees curating the collection and preparing the eventual exhibits.

The state funds staff through the Oklahoma Historical Society, while the remaining construction and exhibit work will be funded through the state matching appropriation and fundraising.

The idea was first pitched by former Historical Society Director Dr. Bob Blackburn around 2009.

What's kept OKPOP alive, as much as a museum can be with nothing to see, is the idea Oklahoma ought to show off its creative contributions to the world.

“It's the movies that inspire us to follow a new dream, a song that got us through some heartbreak years ago. It's a unifying force that connects us to the people around us,” said Jake Krumwiede, the Executive Director of OKPOP.

Abby Kurin, who heads fundraising through the OKPOP Foundation, said "We are going to get this campaign finished and over the finish line. We have 391 days left to go, and we're thrilled for the momentum."

While the museum has yet to open, it is already focusing on collecting items to display.

Some of the 20,000 artifacts collected include Leon Russell's top hat, comic books from Archie Goodwin, who did comics for Marvel and Star Wars, as well as Bob Wills boots and fiddle.

There is also a collection of items from the hit TV show "Walker Texas Ranger."

The museum said once the private funding is secured, it will take two years to complete.