August 27, 2023—It’s back to school time, and this week I hope you will check out the 10-minute Arts Engines’ videocast with Corey Williams, Associate Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at Roosevelt University in Chicago. Mr. Williams has nearly 20 years of experience working on university campuses and is widely regarded for his extensive expertise in securing resources for student support; overseeing … Continue reading Back to School with RU’s Corey Williams

August 20, 2023—Last week, along with Tony Award-winning producer Irene Gandy, I had the honor of moderating the HARLEM WEEK Arts & Culture/Broadway Summitt. This was our fourth annual virtual summit, which provided an update on the demands for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Access both on and off Broadway. With the current escalation of culture wars aiming to cancel the history of and stories about … Continue reading HARLEM WEEK’S Spotlight on Broadway

August 13, 2023—I recently had the opportunity to watch another great videocast on Arts Engines with Aaron Dworkin. This time Aaron interviewed Marc Scorca, President and CEO of OPERA America. During the interview, Mr. Scorca shared his vision of what Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Access looks like for the opera community. He sees it as an opportunity to move opera forward and enrich the art … Continue reading Welcoming New Voices in Opera

August 6, 2023—Despite the attempted pushback against much-needed and necessary Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Access programs, I am always grateful to hear about Champions for the Arts who are still working for and promoting these essential values. I recently learned about the work being done by Sheri Notaro, Vice President of People and Culture at the Minnesota Orchestra. She was interviewed on Arts Engines with … Continue reading Sheri Notaro Advances DE&I in Minnesota

July 30, 2023—The countdown to the kick-off of HARLEM WEEK 2023 is underway, and as regular readers of Arts & Culture Connection know this is my favorite time of the summer! This year’s events begin on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, and continue through Sunday, August 20, 2023, with both in-person and virtual events. Sponsored by the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce (GHCC), the annual festival … Continue reading Getting Ready for HARLEM WEEK 2023

July 26, 2023— After 20 years, Toni-Marie Montgomery, Ph.D., is stepping down next month as the Dean of the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University. A graduate of the University of Michigan with both a Master of Music degree and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano chamber music and accompaniment, Dr. Montgomery was the first African American dean of a major music … Continue reading Dean of Music School Shares Impact of Work

The artwork is attached: Credit: Courtesy of Dance Theatre of Harlem July 16, 2023—After a trailblazing career in the world of ballet spanning more than three decades, Virginia Johnson has departed the post of Artistic Director of Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH). Virginia, along with the late Arthur Mitchell and Karel Shook and five other dancers, were co-founders of DTH. Recognized as one of the … Continue reading Virginia Johnson Departs DTH

  July 9, 2023—I have always admired award-winning producer, writer and director Shonda Rhimes for her programming prowess; creative mastery of television, and the successful and exciting shows that come out of her studio, Shondaland, which feature the most diverse casts on television and streaming services. Ms. Rhimes, who is the CEO of the studio, has also been a big supporter of community projects. For … Continue reading Shondaland Opens Doors in Hollywood

Image Credit: usaforafrica.org screenshot July 2, 2023—Harlem’s own Harry Belafonte will be honored next month during HARLEM WEEK 2023 with a public tribute to the legendary activist and artist, who used his reputation, personal money and leveraged his relationships in the entertainment industry to support the fight for civil rights, social justice, and humanitarian causes. Mr. Belafonte died at his home on April 25, 2023, … Continue reading The ‘Activist who Became an Artist’

June 25, 2023—Following college commencement season, I always look forward to reading about the encouragement and wisdom shared by the wide array of speakers—celebrities, scholars, civic leaders and public officials. This week, I am passing along excerpts I intend to share with my students. I also hope these excerpts will inspire all the readers of Arts & Culture Connections. Oscar award-winning costume designer Ruth E. … Continue reading Inspiration for the Class of 2023