Honoring Philadelphia's rich Black music history by inspiring today's creatives.
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Radio stations and REC Philly are offering grants to Black artists, poets, musicians, and more to honor Philadelphia’s ‘Black Music City’ legacy
December 15th, 2020
GRANT WINNERS
click recipient name for more information
Shekhinah B-Brown / The Tammi Terrell Project
$1,000 – Digital Art (photography, videography, illustration)
Honoring the late and great Tammi Terrell.
Click Here to View the Final Video
$3,500 – Other Zeek Burse / Soul Sista (Reimagined)
$3,000 – Other
Honoring Bilal for his amazing work on the original record of “Soul Sista” but most of all this diverse, multimedia project will honor the strength, soulfulness, beauty, and brilliance of the Black Philly Woman!
Kendrah Butler / Sacred Spirituals: Inspired by the Spirit of Trudy Pitts
$3,500 – Music (song, project)
The legacy and Compositional work of pianist and composer Trudy Pitts
Kimberly Camp / Salute to Marian Anderson
$2,500 Physical Art (painting, drawing, sculpture)
Marian Anderson, The American Contralto who was denied the stage at Constitution Hall by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1939 because of her race.
Stanley Collins / The Seeds of Black Lily
$1,000 – Alternative Audio (podcast, spoken word)
Honoring Black Lily Women in Music Series & The Philadelphia Soul Movement of the Late 90s and Early 2000s
Animah Danquah / The Sound of Philly Mixtape
$1,000 – Digital Art (photography, videography, illustration)
Honoring the evolution and influence of Philadelphia musicians.
Erin Dillard / Emospacebird
$1,000 – Music (song, project)
Honoring the Late and Great Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
Click Here to View Final Video
Allen Green / Philly Musicians Give Back
$2500 – Digital Art (photography, videography, illustration)
Exploring the role social justice advocacy (ie, protesting, fundraising, volunteering) played with Philly musicians though their lyrics and actions.
Noah-Harmony Harley / Sustaining the Sound of Freedom
$1,500 – Music (song, project)
Honoring Rufus Harley Jr. The World’s First Jazz Bagpiper.
Victor Jackson / Princess of a Mountain and Referee of the Ring
$3,500 – Woodwork, poetry, aerosol painting
Honoring Tammi Terrell & Teddy Pendergrass
Oronde Kairi / The Mighty Delfonics
$1,000 – Physical Art (painting, drawing, sculpture)
Honoring the legendary music group The Delfonics.
Joshua Lee / The Music of Frankie Fairfax
$2,000 – Music (song, project)
We are celebrating the Black Dance bands and dancers of Philadelphia during the 30s and 40s
John Morrison / Culture Cypher Magazine
$2,500 – Book/Zine/Print publication
Honoring Philadelphia’s Music and Arts culture through a creative approach to journalism and publishing.
Aniyah Munroe / Before Me
$2,500 – Digital Art (photography, videography, illustration)
“Before Me” honors six musicians from Philadelphia who came before me in time. By choosing to create images of these late artists, I have brought them before me and others in the present. I aim to depict their immortality and timelessness through an Afro-Futurist landscape.
Warren Oree / Philly's Hard Bop Sound Machine
$2,500 – Music (song, project)
Honoring Lee Morgan and the Philly contribution to hard bop jazz music.
M'Balia Singley / Meet Me On The Moon
$1,000 – Music (song, project)
Honoring Phyllis Hyman
Monnette Sudler-Honesty / Woman to Woman: Comparing the lives and music of Trudy Pitts and Shirley Scott
$2,500 – Music (song, project)
Honoring Trudy Pitts and Shirley Scott.
Jamaaladeen Tacuma / Tribute to The Philly Rhythm Kings
$2,500 Music (song, project)
Honoring Bassist – Ronnie Baker, Guitarist – Norman Harris, – Drummer Earl Young (The unsung Rhythm Section that helped create the early Philly sound)
Oluwamuyiwa Togun / Ààro Méta (Three Stones)
$1,000 – Physical Art (painting, drawing, sculpture)
“Ààro méta” is a Yoruba saying that refers to three stones representing stability, wisdom and unity. This piece will be an abstract, mixed-media painting on canvas that depicts 3 prominent black female musicians who have been and/or are known as pillars of the Philadelphia music and creative community.
Click Here to View the Final Project
CrisTene' Triplet / Black in Classical Music
$2,500 – Music (song, project)
Honoring Philadelphia’s own, Marian Anderson; The Contribution of Blacks in Classical Music.
Yolanda Ward / Back In The Day
$1,000 – Physical Art (painting, drawing, sculpture)
Honoring Philly Soul (In A Time When Music Filled Your Every Moment)
Kyra Williams / SIMBY Presents: The Voices of Sisterly Affection
$2,000 – Digital Art (photography, videography, illustration)
Through photography and videography, I’m honoring the lasting contributions that Black women from Philly have made in music from Billie Holiday to Tierra Whack.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Having nurtured numerous groundbreaking musical styles and artists, and been at the forefront of some of the world’s most significant musical developments, Philadelphia’s rich Black music history will be the source of inspiration and interpretation by today’s Black creatives.
Black Music City is a program that calls upon Black creatives in the greater Philadelphia area (PA, NJ, DE) working in any creative medium to submit their project ideas honoring Philly’s Black music history and apply for a project grant. Selected artists will receive a minimum of $1,000 each to bring their projects to life. A committee of prominent Black Philadelphia professionals in the arts, media, and business will judge the final round of applicants to be awarded the more than $30,000 in grant funding available.
Black Music City is hosted by Suzann Christine and will produce videos that spotlight each grant recipient and document the journey of their project. All final work will be showcased during African American Music Appreciation Month in June 2021.
JUDGING CRITERIA
Each category is scored on a 1 to 10 scale by our selection committee
- Storytelling & Theme: the project will tell a clear, significant & relevant story that fits the theme of this program
- Creativity: the project will be originally produced in a unique, innovative style
- Personal Opinion: the selector really enjoys the concept/idea of the project submission
- Past Work/Resume: does the applicant have a background that proves they can accomplish their vision
Requirements
Applicants must be
- African American/Black
- 18 Years or older
- Residing or working in the Greater Philadelphia area: PA, NJ, DE
- Able to complete the work by May 27, 2021
- Available periodically from February through May for recorded check-ins with the BMC team
- Available to participate in the concluding event in June 2021
TIMELINE
December 14th - January 25th
Grant applications are open
Late February
Grant winners selected
March - May
Winners create their project
using grant funding
May 27th
Work completion
and submission
June
Exhibition and distribution
of final projects
December 14th - January 25th
Late February
March - May
May 27th
June
Grant applications are open
Grant winners are selected
Winners create their project using grant funding
Work completion and submission
Exhibition and distribution of final projects
APPLICATIONS ARE CLOSED
Applications for this project are now closed. Our Selection Committee will be selecting the grant winners in late February. Stay tuned!
Selection comMittee
Dyana Williams
Alex Holley
Gerald Veasley
Ashley Coleman Thomas
Chill Moody
Dame + Yaya Horne
DYANA WILLIAMS
Alex Holley
Gerald Veasley
Ashley Coleman Thomas
CHILL MOODY
Damion + Yaya Horne
PARTNERS
FAQ
What kind of artistic mediums are accepted?
Our goal is to showcase the breadth and depth of Black artistry in our area. Creatives working in any medium are encouraged to submit their ideas. This may include but is not limited to:
- alternative audio (podcast, spoken word)
- cinematic art
- decorative arts (enamelwork, mosaic)
- music (as composition)
- performing arts (theatre, dance, music)
- photography
- sculpture
- textile or fabric art
- written (poetry, drama, story)
- visual or graphic arts created in physical or digital format (painting, drawing, illustration, mural)
What music genres can be used in creating this work?
What responsibilities do I have to fulfill if I am selected?
You will be expected to check in periodically with the project coordinators about your progress and to participate in check-in videos that will be shown publicly on partner websites and social media channels. Your project must be completed and ready to be shared publicly by May 27, 2021. You will also be involved in the final project showcase in June 2021.
How much grant money will I receive?
Grant awards are $1000 per project but could be more (up to $3,500) based on a review of the justification provided with the application.
What can the grant money be used for?
You may use the money in any way that is needed. Grant requests in excess of $1,000 require written explanation supporting the need for additional funds.
When will the money be granted (e.g. beginning of project, end of project)?
50% of the grant money will be provided to start the project. The remaining funds will be distributed at the conclusion of the project.
I have questions specific to my project concept. Is there someone that I can speak to about them?
Please email [email protected] with any questions about this project
What is the process for selecting the projects that will receive funding and be part of the final exhibit?
Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements and complete the application form. All project descriptions will be reviewed and rated according to the following criteria:
- Storytelling & Theme: the project will tell a clear, significant & relevant story that fits the theme of this program
- Creativity: the project will be produced in a unique, innovative style
- Personal Opinion: the selector really enjoys the concept/idea of the project submission
- Past Work/Resume: the applicant’s past work proves they can accomplish their vision
Who is eligible to apply for the project grants?
Applicants must be:
- African American/Black
- 18 Years or older
- Residing or working in the Greater Philadelphia area: PA, NJ, DE
- Able to complete the work by May 27, 2021
- Available periodically from February through May for recorded check-ins with the BMC team
- Available to participate in the concluding event in June 2021
Can I submit more than 1 application?
No – only one application per individual.
How can my business support and be involved with this project?
Black Music City sponsorships are available and include on-air opportunities on public radio stations WXPN and WRTI as well as other project assets. A portion of sponsorship dollars are used to help fund the grants.
If you are interested in sponsoring Black Music City, please contact [email protected]
Who are the project partners?
Black Music City is a collaboration between WXPN, the non-commercial radio service of the University of Pennsylvania, WRTI, the non-commercial music radio service of Temple University and REC Philly, A Place for Creators.
What does ownership of the projects created look like for the selected winners?
- for a period ending on [December 31, 2021] , an exclusive, royalty-free, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide right and license (with the right to sublicense to third persons), to reproduce in print, film, video, sound, broadcast, cable, satellite, electronic and digital media, and all other mediums now known or hereafter created, prepare derivative works from, publicly distribute, publicly display, and publicly perform (including but not limited to publicly perform via digital audio transmission), the Creative Work, for any purpose;
- beginning [January 1, 2022] , a nonexclusive, perpetual, royalty-free, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide right and license (with the right to sublicense to third persons), to reproduce in print, film, video, sound, broadcast, cable, satellite, electronic and digital media, and all other mediums now known or hereafter created, and create derivative works from, the Creative Work, for any purpose;
- beginning on the date you submit this application, a nonexclusive, perpetual, royalty-free, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide right and license (with the right to sublicense to third persons), to use your name, likeness, voice, biographic information, photograph and image, and any photograph and image of the Creative Work, to advertise, market, publicize, and otherwise promote the Black Music City competition, awards, events, winners, applicants, activities, funders, and supporters, including but not limited to WXPN, WRTI, and REC Philly.
