Jazz Concert with Duke Ellington Orchestraat Syracuse University
The Syracuse University Art Museum engaged audiences with the works of Gordon Parks and explored the artist's connection to jazz music with a concert by the Duke Ellington Orchestra.
I Refuse to Be Invisible:An Improvisational Concert at the Academy Art Museum
The Academy Art Museum organized a collaborative concert in which musicians and audience members co-created music inspired by Njideka Akunyili Crosby’s painting “I Refuse to Be Invisible.”
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Contract Labor
Honoraria
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Travel & Lodging
partner
Academy Art Museum
location
Easton, MD
About
Attendees were invited to write personal responses to Crosby’s painting that were projected onto the wall of the museum’s theater space, where both performers and audience members could view them. Three local musicians—Kentavius Jones, Ian Trusheim, and Jordon Stanley—used these responses to perform an improvisational piece of music that captured the tone and mood of the participants’ interpretations.
Intended Outcome
Through this concert setting, the Academy Art Museum aimed to increase engagement with younger audiences—primarily people under 55 years old, including teenagers—who have been difficult to engage consistently. The museum hoped to have 60 people attend the concert, with at least 20 submitting keywords and phrases inspired by the painting.
Actual Outcome
The concert was successful in attracting an audience of people who actively participated. There were 80 attendees, 41 of whom contributed responses as part of the activity. Since this pilot program, the museum has hosted additional improvisational concerts, featuring different musicians.
Advice Post Project
For musical and other performance-based events, consider developing the program format to include direct engagement between the audience and performers. By allowing audience feedback to influence the performance itself, the Academy Art Museum saw increased attendance, and a high proportion of the audience actively contributed to the activity and shared in-depth qualitative feedback afterward.
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Jazz Concert with Duke Ellington Orchestraat Syracuse University
The Syracuse University Art Museum engaged audiences with the works of Gordon Parks and explored the artist's connection to jazz music with a concert by the Duke Ellington Orchestra.
Bill Miller Performance & Workshopsat Michener Art Museum
The Michener Art Museum engaged Grammy Award-winning musician Bill Miller (Munsee-Lenape/Mohican) to perform as well as lead music composition and songwriting workshops centered on themes from the exhibition "Never Broken: Visualizing Lenape Histories."
Learn MoreAbout This Activity