Bill Miller Performance & Workshops

at Michener Art Museum

About

Students participated in a unique program at the Michener Art Museum, where they worked with award-winning blues and folk musician Bill Miller in a small group setting. They explored the exhibition, "Never Broken: Visualizing Lenape Histories," reflected on its themes, and learned about Miller’s songwriting process as well as the connection between music and spirit. Students wrote and then performed original parts of Miller’s song, "Stone Tree," during an afternoon concert. The program, including the concert and transportation to and from the museum, was free of charge for students and their families.

Intended Outcome

The Michener Art Museum aims to use the arts to positively impact underserved young adults and Title 1 high school students. It hoped to reach at least 328 students through this activity.

Actual Outcome

The originally intended collaborator required participating students to have prior musical experience, which would have limited participation from Title 1 school partners, so the Michener Art Museum staff quickly adapted by bringing in a different musician. This change opened the door for broader participation, although by this time, many students had already committed to holiday performances. In response, the museum expanded outreach to additional schools, colleges, and music programs, and thanks to those efforts, it successfully filled the workshops with 75 total participants. While only four participants came from economically underserved communities, the program still created meaningful opportunities and laid the groundwork for deeper engagement with future initiatives.

Advice Post-Project

For museums planning similar programs, choose artists who can engage students of all skill levels to avoid excluding schools without music programs. Plan ahead for seasonal conflicts like holiday events and broaden outreach beyond your usual partners to include colleges and community programs. Even if your full goals aren’t met, the experience can still be impactful and build momentum for future efforts.