Fiscal Year: 2025

In partnership with UW Odyssey Beyond Bars and Odyssey Junior programs, Vera Court Neighborhood Center, Madison Youth Arts Center and artist Tuwilê Roots, youth impacted by the criminal justice system explore identity through portraiture and storytelling. An exhibition and panel will be held at the UW Partnership Center and Madison City Building in Spring 2025.

Striving to provide outreach programs to our local schools and community, the Erickson Center for the Arts will host "The Spirit of Harriet Tubman" featuring Leslie McCurdy. Using words said to have been Harriet Tubman¹s own, Leslie McCurdy recreates both familiar stories and some rarely told in a passionate portrayal of Harriet Tubman's entire life, the famous Underground Railroad conductor.

On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of The Chicago International Film Festival, the Black chamber music collective D-Composed will join forces with the Festival to celebrate the works of Black film composers with a live performance and post-show panel discussion around the role of music in storytelling.

To complement The YES! House’s consistent work showcasing and supporting artists in the Southwest Minnesota region, The Exchange: Visiting Artist Series invites artists from across the Midwest to engage in a short-term residency at The YES! House, culminating in a public arts event showcasing their work. This series seeks to foster creativity, collaboration, and geographic cross-pollination.

The DuPage Symphony Orchestra (DSO) will present a celebration of Mexican music and culture at our May 17, 2025 season finale concert, "Mexican Montage," featuring Mexican-American pianist Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner, in a performance of Carlos Chavez's seldom-played Piano Concerto (a 20th century Mexican masterpiece) and the music of Arturo Marquez, an influential living Mexican composer.

Early Music Now is seeking funding to present early music ensemble Magdalena to Milwaukee audiences, on both our main subscription series and for multiple free outreach performances.

People with disabilities will have the opportunity to attend multiple sessions of songwriting and recording workshops at TalkBack Studios, gaining studio experience alongside professional, performing artist Evan Stock. Also, participants will have the opportunity to perform their creative ballads for the community on stage, alongside the Evan Stock Band.

Exposed Brick Theatre will engage playwright Ehkhudah Zar and will tour her play Muyehpen to Worthington, Minnesota.

FVRC will host two concerts followed by live interviews of the performing musicians. One concert will feature regional musician Brandon Reisig, and the other North Carolina’s Hearts Gone South. FVRC will also host a day long, hands-on, community workshop making traditional musical instruments led by Ojibwe and Potawatomi artists Sonja and Jefferson Ballew.

Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts will host visiting artist Cedric Mitchell. Mitchell will present on his work & artistic practice (free to the public), teach a workshop for underserved youth, and have a multi-day residency in our glass arts studio. This visit will kick off our 2025 visiting artist programming.