“The Grand Rapids Symphony was awarded a $25,000 grant to help enhance initiatives of diversity, equity and inclusion in orchestral music,” reports Alyssa Burr in Wednesday’s (6/12) MLive.com (Michigan). “The one-year grant was given by the League of American Orchestras. It’s the first round of The Catalyst Fund, a new three-year, $2.1 million grant-making program made possible by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. ‘There is a growing will among orchestras to make their organizations more inclusive, and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation’s leadership, vision, and financial support is helping to drive these efforts,’ said Jesse Rosen, president and CEO of the League of American Orchestras, in a press release. The Grand Rapids Symphony will use the Catalyst Fund grant to expand opportunities for more people to engage with orchestral music. Grand Rapids Symphony President Mary Tuuk said … ‘Truly serving our entire community means creating an environment of innovation and inclusion in everything we do.’ … Grand Rapids Symphony is one of 23 orchestras participating in the new program … orchestras are required to enlist an equity, diversity and inclusion practitioner who will help implement organizational development activities such as delivering cultural competency and anti-racism training.”
Posted June 14, 2019
