Middle C

How foundations, nonprofits, musicians, and music businesses are building creative ecosystems in the middle of America

Tuesday, October 15, 10:00am – 11:30am

Organized and moderated by Bryce Merrill, music programs manager, Bohemian Foundation; and Tom Scharf, chief music officer, Bohemian Foundation.

Presented by Joe Randel, senior program officer, Arts & Culture, Walton Family Foundation; and Stanton Doyle, senior program officer, Civic Enhancement, George Kaiser Family Foundation.

In the heartland of America, creative ecosystems are being cultivated and cared for by a variety of stakeholders in the public and private sectors. These efforts are not meant to draw attention to the middle of the country as “valuable but ignored resources” or to cope with the imagined consequences of being disconnected from coastal art worlds. Instead, these creative ecosystems exist to produce great art, cultivate and grow creative businesses, and strengthen the broader communities in which they are embedded. This session looks at how music-specific creative ecosystems are being developed, the social, cultural, and economic results of these efforts, and emerging work by the presenters to begin to connect these ecosystems regionally. Lessons for funders, board members, advocates, and other ecosystem builders will be abundant.