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Welcome to My Blog: Arts and Culture Connections
Dear Colleague, Imagine a world without theater, music, dance, visual arts, books or the support of our essential cultural institutions. Unfortunately, the current political climate has awakened us all to the possibility that we may be standing at the threshold of what could become be a dark, abysmal and soulless landscape. Against that backdrop, today, I am launching my new blog to champion the arts, … Continue reading Welcome to My Blog: Arts and Culture Connections
National Day of Racial Healing 2024
December 3, 2023—The 8th Annual National Day of Racial Healing will be observed on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, offering the arts community the opportunity to lead the way with programs and events that help us see not only who we are as a nation, but also the potential of what we can become. Begun in 2017, the National Day of Racial Healing is observed on … Continue reading National Day of Racial Healing 2024
BON Summit Looks Ahead to the Future
November 26, 2023—The Black Orchestral Network (BON) recently held a summit to explore the future of inclusivity within American orchestras and featured the voices of Gen Z students who are pursuing classical music careers. BON was founded by a group of Black orchestral musicians who first began meeting to develop a connection with each other and to harness their collective creativity to develop initiatives to … Continue reading BON Summit Looks Ahead to the Future
Panel to Discuss Misrepresentation
November 19, 2023—In honor and recognition of Native American Heritage Month, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center is holding a Standing in Solidarity program to convene a virtual panel that will discuss the misrepresentations of Native American people and their heritage. The program will be held on Monday, November 27, 2023, at 7 p.m. (ET). The misrepresentations, which range from sports mascots to television and … Continue reading Panel to Discuss Misrepresentation
Met Opera Launches ‘X’ with Public Reading
November 12, 2023—I recently had the opportunity to participate in what I believe was an innovative audience development and community engagement project presented by New York’s Metropolitan Opera in support of a new staging of the brilliant opera, X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X, which is being performed until December 2, 2023. Pianist and composer Anthony Davis, known as the “dean of African-American … Continue reading Met Opera Launches ‘X’ with Public Reading
Wise Words from a Young Arts Leader
November 5, 2023—I recently read an interview with the award-winning writer, university professor, policy leader, and Rhodes Scholar, Tope Folarin, about the importance of the arts during both personal and social crises. The interview was posted on Medium at this link. I believe Mr. Folarin, who also serves as the Executive Director of the progressive think-tank, the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, D.C., and … Continue reading Wise Words from a Young Arts Leader
2023 Arts Vibrancy Index Shows Value of the Arts
October 29, 2023—SMU DataArts has released its 2023 Arts Vibrancy Index, which ranks and highlights the large, medium, and small arts-vibrant communities throughout the United States. This is important, data-based information that reaffirms the tremendous value of the arts to community growth and development. At the same time, the report acknowledges the impact of arts and culture programming cutbacks, layoffs, shifts in audience behavior due … Continue reading 2023 Arts Vibrancy Index Shows Value of the Arts
‘Color Me Country™’ Uplifts Artists of Color
October 22, 2023—Sixteen years ago, Rissi Palmer became the first Black woman in 20 years to have a song reach the country music Billboard chart. Despite this historic feat and rave reviews about her music, Ms. Palmer was pushed out of the industry a few years later in a dispute with her record label. But rather than be defeated by the industry pushback and an … Continue reading ‘Color Me Country™’ Uplifts Artists of Color
Glynne Griffith, II, Leads Dallas Symphony Orchestra ED&I
October 15, 2023–Glyne Griffith II, Vice President of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Impact for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO), is bringing his corporate experience to the world of classical music and is creating new avenues for engaging with ED&I in that arena. Dr. Griffith, who earned a Ph.D. in Business Administration specializing in organizational leadership, joined the DSO last year as its inaugural EDI/SI … Continue reading Glynne Griffith, II, Leads Dallas Symphony Orchestra ED&I
Supporting the Artists Who Create the Art
October 8, 2023—This is National Arts & Humanities Month (NAHM), an opportunity to expand the dialogue in our workplaces and communities about the value of arts and culture to our collective well-being, and the necessity of equitable access. President Joe Biden’s 2023 Executive Order comes at a critical juncture in America—amidst a culture war that seeks to ignore the rich diversity of the American people … Continue reading Supporting the Artists Who Create the Art
Talia L. Young Named CEO of NSH
October 1, 2023—I hope you will join me in celebrating the recent appointment of Talia L. Young as the CEO of the Newark Symphony Hall (NSH), New Jersey’s largest Black-led arts and entertainment venue. Before her appointment, Talia, a cherished colleague, served for nine months as the venue’s interim CEO, and she has been a member of the NSH Board of Directors since 2014. Over … Continue reading Talia L. Young Named CEO of NSH