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

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

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

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

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

September 24, 2023—This is National Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the numerous contributions of the Latinx and Hispanic community—the second largest racial and ethnic group after White Americans. But amid this annual commemoration from September 15 to October 15, there is a culture war brewing that is threatening the future building of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and represents a … Continue reading Culture War Hits Latino Museum

September 17, 2023—Minty Fresh Circus, the U.S.-based circus show performed by an all-Black cast, has been chosen for a 2023-2024 residency at the incubator, Jacobs Pillow Lab, which supports dance artists during the crucial development, research, and technical stages of choreography-driven projects. Readers of Arts & Culture Connections may recall an interview I conducted with Monique Martin, who conceived of, co-directs, and produces Minty Fresh … Continue reading Minty Fresh Receives Pillow Lab Residency

September 10, 2023—It’s time to make your plans to attend the 2023 March on Washington Film Festival (MOWFF), which gets underway on September 24, 2023, in Washington, D.C. Offering both in-person and on-demand events, the theme of this year’s festival is “Pulpits, Protest, and Power: The Church and the Civil Rights Movement.” MOWFF is the only film festival devoted to the continued exploration of the … Continue reading MOWFF 2023 Explores Role of Black Church

September 3, 2023—Victoria Valentine, who was on my list of 2021 Champions for the Arts, is the founder of the award-winning blog, CultureType. She stays on top of the world of visual arts from a Black perspective, sharing information weekly about emerging and established artists, as well as legends of the field; arts management promotions; exhibition openings; book reviews, and breakthrough achievements. Ms. Valentine recently … Continue reading 34 New Black Arts Leaders