Program/Grant: GIG Fund

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.

FAME Multicultural Arts Programs encourage students to learn about diverse cultures and create original culturally inspired art. FAME's Visiting Artist Program contracts professional artists to visit area schools to share their talents and culture with students in the classroom and perform for the public at our annual FAME Festival. For 2024-2025, FAME will explore the culture of the Caribbean.

An artist in residence will work directly with library staff to provide classes for people of all ages and abilities. Additionally, the artist will have studio hours at the library where the public can see the artist working and ask questions.

We will be hosting a visit of the traditional Afro-Indigenous Son Jarocho music group, Colectivo Altepee from Veracruz, Mexico for a one week visit. We will have music workshops, a photo exhibit with panel discussion, and a performance for the community.

The Aberdeen Arts Council will feature The Queen's Cartoonist for two concerts in one day. The day concert will be an outreach, educational show free to local schools, nursing home residents, special needs agency clients, and disadvantaged youth from local programs. The evening performance will be a ticketed event open to the public and outreach attendees for the evening.