Image: The existing site in Nashville, Tennessee

The Academy of Country Music (ACM) has gifted US$2.5m (EUR2.1m, £1.6m) towards an expansion of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Tennessee, US.

Under the plans, the attraction's floorspace will be extended from its existing 140,000sq ft (13,006sq m) to more than 350,000sq ft (32,516sq m). It is due for completion in 2014.

Tuck-Hinton Architects are behind the design of the project, which will also include a new ACM Contemporary Gallery charting modern developments and trends in country music.

A fundraising campaign for the expansion - Working on a Building - launched last July and has already secured US$70m (EUR57.4m, £45.3m) towards the total cost.

ACM CEO Bob Romeo said: "It is the Academy's honour to help ensure that the history of country music can be told for generations to come.

"We are able to make this kind of contribution only because of the incredible country music artists who give of their time for Academy charitable endeavours."

Details: www.countrymusichalloffame.org

Image: Sean Russell