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.
Supercoolwicked:Negro, Spiritual
The University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA) collaborated with local interdisciplinary performance artist Supercoolwicked to provide a free interpretative performance that successfully engaged local students and Black individuals with art and blended performance and storytelling to explore themes of healing, self-reflection, and ancestral veneration.
Funding Categories
Honoraria
Contract Labor
Marketing & Outreach
partner
University of Michigan Museum of Art
location
Ann Arbor, MI
About
In collaboration with guest curator Yodit Mesfin Johnson, UMMA conducted a programming series for "Silver Linings: Celebrating the Spelman Collection," where the principle of "nothing about us without us" was indispensable. Supercoolwicked’s "Negro, Spiritual" performance reflected this statement and the exhibition's themes by nurturing the investment of Black excellence in the arts while exploring the journey of healing from legacies of personal and familial racism. The performance created an immersive and intellectually stimulating atmosphere that attracted audiences interested in both contemporary art and music.
Intended Outcome
UMMA intended to increase Black audience members with the hope of attracting 300-plus attendees. The museum aimed to reach this audience through specific and strategic marketing catered to Black and non-museum-going communities.
Actual Outcome
Supercoolwicked successfully engaged 200-plus attendees, but the reach to audiences outside of the university and museum was limited. Though reach to the wider community was not as great as intended, UMMA gained a comprehensive understanding of the program’s resonance among Black audiences, allowing staff to identify areas for growth.
Advice Post Project
By expanding promotional efforts and focusing outreach on groups traditionally underrepresented in museum visitations, UMMA could have expanded the dialogue and connection to a broader audience, engaging Supercoolwicked’s profound musical innovation with more diverse communities.
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Chill Nightsat the Richard M. Ross Art Museum
The Richard M. Ross Art Museum hosted a series of student-planned "Chill Nights," featuring crafts, screenings, and food to engage historically underserved Ohio Wesleyan University student groups and nurture a sense of belonging inspired by Fritz Scholder’s "Hollywood Indian."
Related exhibitions
Discover More
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.
Chill Nightsat the Richard M. Ross Art Museum
The Richard M. Ross Art Museum hosted a series of student-planned "Chill Nights," featuring crafts, screenings, and food to engage historically underserved Ohio Wesleyan University student groups and nurture a sense of belonging inspired by Fritz Scholder’s "Hollywood Indian."
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