FY04 Challenge America Access to the Arts: Fast Track

Greenville Symphony Orchestra, $10,000

To support a planning process to explore methods for delivering multidisciplinary arts education programs to families in newly created affordable housing. This project will conduct focus groups and surveys to determine the arts activities of interest to the predominantly African-American community resettled in the Viola Street neighborhood. With consultation the Urban League, the symphony will partner with Carolina Ballet Theatre and the Warehouse Theatre in an effort to design programs that will encourage the participants' personal growth and increase their involvement in the community.

To support planning and development of an international composer's competition. Affirming the orchestra's commitment to New Orleans' diverse population, this project will require contestants to reference the locale in their compositions, by reflecting the jazz heritage of New Orleans or the heritage of the Mississippi River. The orchestra will work with the New Orleans Office of Economic Development, Tourism Marketing Corporation, and Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau to implement and publicize the competition.

To support a festival of music training and performance by regional choirs that includes outreach to youth and ethnic groups in southern Utah. A choral clinician will critique singers and musicians from school and adult choirs. As well, the clinician will conduct workshops in choral practices and offer clinics on music of diverse cultures. A final concert will combine talents to present a program reflecting the theme of international music diversity. The festival will help establish tourist events in the new Heritage Center, in an effort to increase cultural activity in southern Utah.

To support presentation and promotion of Concerts on the Square, a series of free outdoor, after-work concerts on the Wisconsin capitol grounds. The concerts take place on the steps of the state Capitol building over six weeks in the summer and provide a downtown destination for approximately 120,000 attendees. The State of Wisconsin and City of Madison both supply grounds maintenance, security, parking, and other services, and the local hospitality industry provides lodging for guest artists, transportation, and promotion of the events.