Jake-ann Jones’ Post

My first concert was the Wu-Tang Clan at Summer Jam in Newark. I think the first band or musical artist you ever saw is very telling... I went to high school in Stamford, CT and one of my favorite things about Stamford was the range of cultures and landscapes. Everyone mixed and mingled together. It didn’t matter how smart or athletic you were. Someone would put on 90s hip hop at a random party in a parking lot and everyone would get up and do the electric slide (yes you heard me right, the electric slide). As I have gotten older, I think a lot about how that music brought us all together and how music and art have a unique ability to transcend boundaries and connect people from all walks of life. Whether it's a mural brightening up a neighborhood, a community theater production, or a local music festival, artistic endeavors have the power to foster shared experiences, encourage dialogue and understanding and celebrate diversity. Investing in the arts doesn’t only support creativity (always a good thing), it builds stronger, more cohesive communitiies. Last year when our company re-branded the Louisville Orchestra, we learned that the orchestra was born as a means to inspire the rebuilding of Louisville, Kentucky after the great flood of 1937… if that’s not the holy grail of examples on how the arts can inspire unity and strength, I don’t know what is. And the Louisville Orchestra continues to follow in the footsteps of their founders with continual outreach in their community; building bridges with youth and underserved people so that everyone has access to the arts. We always take pride in the work that we do, but there is something incredibly gratifying about supporting the arts and galvanizing people within a community, especially during these very divided and challenging times. Helping institutions reach people, amplify their storytelling and fulfill their missions is and will always be joyful work. #CommunityArt #ArtisticUnity #CulturalEngagement #MakeADifference #graphicdesign #marketing https://lnkd.in/e56p22a4

Arts and culture are critical to the quality of life in a community. But arts and culture costs money - and communities need to invest in that talent if they want to reap the benefits. Municipalities should pay artists for the value they bring. https://buff.ly/3wbVwiS

Question: How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives? My Answer: The best way to make an impact is to follow your passions and engage with organizations that align with those passions. There’s a common misconception that you need to be an artist or have an arts background to contribute to arts organizations. In reality, we need board members and volunteers with diverse skills and backgrounds—those who excel in finances, marketing, event organization, insurance, sales, and advocacy. Read more to learn about my journey with music and the Alpharetta Symphony, and its impact on the Alpharetta community…

Latest song review from Spotlight Music Review Blog!

What is the proper role of arts institutions in combating threats to democracy? Jesse Rosen, formerly the President and CEO of the League of American Orchestras, has published a thought-provoking essay, “What Responsibility Do Orchestras have for Democracy?” in which he writes: Orchestras have choices; they are not neutral. Maintaining the status quo is just as much a political act as addressing the pressing political issues of the day. Orchestras are part of the larger arts and entertainment community and have a historic opportunity now —a responsibility, I would argue—to join forces across the sector to advance democracy and to protect their missions of safeguarding creativity and free expression. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eVw3ddQY

On this episode of Arts Engines, Aaron Dworkin spoke with Marvin Curtis, Board President of the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, about the role of board members in advancing DE&I efforts. Curtis emphasized the need for authentic, community-centered approaches to change. Takeaways from Marvin: ▪️ Collaboration with Decision-Makers: Open dialogues with the Conductor and Executive Director ensure that DE&I efforts are deeply embedded, not just performative. ▪️ Action and Accountability: It's critical to establish benchmarks for progress, such as increasing board diversity and programming works by composers of color. ▪️ Community Focus: Initiatives like offering Spanish translations at concerts demonstrate how to prioritize inclusion and cultural relevance. Curtis urges us to "be BOLD" in the face of resistance, especially as conversations around justice face backlash. With opposition, the commitment to equity is crucial, as Curtis says, “At the end of the day, it's about being present and working for better futures in music.” #Arts #Culture #Music #Orchestras #BoardLeadership #Community #Justice #Diversity #Equity #Inclusion

ICYMI: Our very own Professor of Psychology and Environmental Studies and Chair of Psychology, Cindy Frantz, was on NPR's Weekend Edition! In the article, which centers around musical artists and their climate activism, Frantz discusses the psychological impact of large scale movements. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/gEtskYDy 📸: Tanya Rosen-Jones ’97

As of July 1, 2024, a new State budget is active which includes a $32 million cut to arts and culture organizations across Florida. That means $0 in funding to support organizations like your Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and $150,000 in grant support we no longer receive. Read more in this The Associated Press article on how this is affecting organizations across the entire State. #orlando #orchestra #supportthearts #budgetcuts

I just love the mission of this sponsoring organization, A Tribe for Jazz. They are doing some deeply interdisciplinary work telling the story of jazz as a public good. This panel discussion--Hear Me Out: Democracy, Jazz, and Education-- brought together leaders in jazz advocacy and left me reflecting on what it means to "be the change" first as a human, second as a artist/academic/teacher/advocate.

The 2020 pandemics—of racial violence, political division, economic inequality, and climate crisis—exposed that our systems and those within them are far from alright. As 2024 ends, growing technology and interconnectedness reveal the work needed to defend democracy. As Jesse Rosen notes in "What Responsibility Do Orchestras Have for Democracy?": "Although American democracy remains deeply flawed, without it, the promise of a just government, by and for the people, will die." Interconnectedness is everywhere, often unnoticed. Take this post: it’s not just my effort but the work of countless others who sustain platforms like this one. Similarly, the arts are inherently relational. In Arts and Culture, especially philanthropy, “arts for arts’ sake” no longer suffices. As Rosen says, "Playing great music, with all its power, is not sufficient." Art must transcend itself—spurring representation, fostering wellness, enabling dialogues, and other positives that uplift those treated as products rather than humans. What practices and policies can orchestras adopt to promote a pluralistic society—valuing diversity, freedom of expression, and peaceful conflict resolution? Orchestras, like all institutions, are shaped by history. For example, Jim Crow laws barred Black Americans from orchestra halls until the Civil Rights Movement. By then, many found belonging in more inclusive genres. This legacy underscores how dominant cultures shape access to the arts. As Rosen puts it: "The value of the arts is not absolute; it’s contingent upon the purposes to which they are deployed. Powerful people decide what art thrives, who participates, and what projects art serves." The 2020 pandemics forced arts organizations to confront their complicity. Maintaining the Eurocentric status quo is a political choice. So, what is the role of orchestras (and other arts organizations) now? Rosen offers two approaches: 🔸 Programming: Intentional choices about artists, repertoire, and engagement to reflect a pluralistic society. 🔸 Advocacy: Policies addressing democracy’s health—not just arts funding—requiring coalition-building across sectors. As someone shaped by warnings of dystopia—war, ecological collapse, and instability—I resonate with the urgency Rosen describes. Too often, we are numbed when we should be shocked. The arts can be a wake-up call, a mirror, and a blueprint for change. Rosen’s conclusion: "Orchestras convey messages about society, intentionally or not. Maintaining the status quo is just as much a political act as addressing pressing issues. Orchestras have a historic opportunity—and responsibility—to advance democracy and safeguard creativity." As we approach 2025, the arts must do better. What will we do to support this cause? #Arts #Culture #Music #Orchestra #Democracy #Policy #Advocacy #Representation #SocialChange #Equity