The Wallace Foundation has announced a five-year, $53 million initiative focusing on arts organizations of color, and is inviting eligible arts organizations to apply. Wallace is also inviting researchers to submit proposals for studies associated with the initiative. The open call to submit applications runs through August 13, 2021.
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The American Rescue Plan funds administered by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) will be awarded to support jobs in the arts and culture sector, keep the doors open to nonprofit organizations nationwide, and assist the field in its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. This specialized grant process is distinct from other NEA grantmaking opportunities, and interest is encouraged from all eligible applicants, whether or not organizations are prior NEA grantees.
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Xian Zhang, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra’s music director, brings a sky-high energy level and full-body approach to the podium. She leans in almost as if to embrace the musicians, and that’s not accidental. Even during the past year, with people socially distanced due to the pandemic, she has stayed tightly connected with NJSO musicians—and a film crew—to craft imaginative concert films.
With the support of our valued donors, the League continues to have a positive impact on the future of orchestras in America by helping to develop the next generation of leaders, generating and disseminating critical knowledge and information, and advocating for the unique role of the orchestral experience in American life before an ever-widening group of stakeholders.
The League of American Orchestras’ groundbreaking Catalyst Fund is helping dozens of orchestras build understanding of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and implement effective EDI strategies. And it’s making a real-world impact at orchestras and communities across the country.
As we tentatively begin to emerge from the pandemic, what will the fall orchestra season look like? One thing is certain: It won’t be business as usual. Orchestras have grappled with the pandemic and sought to confront racial injustice while adopting notably different approaches to the new season. Flexibility is key, given the unpredictable nature of the pandemic.
The pandemic ushered in a prolonged period when many musicians could not perform with their orchestras. This time has been psychologically and emotionally fraught not only for musicians, but for orchestra staffers as well, and it has brought heightened attention to the importance of health and wellness. Instrumentalists, composers, orchestras, and therapists are stepping up to help their colleagues by creating programs that provide solace, support, and a space to talk.
Few activities are as central to orchestras as auditions for musicians. “Blind” auditions, in which musicians perform behind a screen to shield their identity, were instituted in the 1970s to redress the longstanding exclusion of people of color and women from orchestras. While blind auditions were successful in some regards, particularly in increasing the proportion of women musicians at orchestras, the percentage of Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) musicians has not risen significantly over time.