Orange County NC Website
The majority (over 85%) of the artists we work with are African- <br />American, over age 55, and raised in the rural South. We focus our <br />efforts on these artists because there is real danger that their cultural <br />contributions will be lost to our society if they are not supported and <br />documented now. Music Maker emphasizes long-term relationships <br />and individualized plans that meet musicians’ specific needs and <br />abilities—this includes everything from social services to booking <br />performances. Since its founding, Music Maker has made over <br />13,000 financial grants to 500+ artists, and helped its partners secure <br />more than 8,000 engagements. <br />The Sustenance Program provides essential services to senior <br />musicians living in chronic poverty and in crisis. Monthly stipends <br />help our Partner Artists afford their basic needs, such as food, <br />medicine, and utility bills. Music Maker also provides one-time <br />emergency grants to assist with unexpected expenses, such as <br />house repair after a natural disaster or in-home care after a major <br />surgery. <br />The Performance Program documents traditional musicians and <br />expands their professional horizons. Music Maker develops <br />musicians' repertoires, provides instruments, and assists artists in <br />developing promotional materials. The Performance Program also <br />builds audiences for traditional music, presenting artists at venues <br />across NC, the US, and abroad. <br />In 2018/19, Music Maker presented 591 artist performances at 143 <br />events worldwide. This booking and tour support makes it possible <br />for aging artists to share their talents and the musical traditions of <br />our state with audiences around the world. Music Maker presented <br />305 artist performances at 80 events in NC in 2019, including the fifth <br />annual Freight Train Blues Series in Carrboro, Music Maker 25 with <br />Duke Performances in Durham, the NC Roots Music Series in <br />Charlotte, and A Day of Remembrance in Hillsborough. These free, <br />educational, accessible concerts featured traditional musicians and <br />reach a wide variety of NC residents. The majority of events we <br />present musicians at nationally and abroad also feature North <br />Carolina performers. Our performances and exhibits reached 501,000 <br />people in fiscal year 2018/19. <br />The Education Program makes NC musical heritage accessible to <br />current and future generations through public exhibitions, youth <br />engagement, and archival preservation. MMRF maintains a strong <br />presence across NC through youth outreach to the constituents of <br />Girls Rock NC, Orange County schools, Mecklenburg County <br />libraries, and more. Our efforts to document these traditions are also <br />preserved in recordings and photographs at the Southern Folklife <br />Collection at UNC Chapel Hill. With 3 touring multi-media exhibits, <br />Music Maker shines a light on under-represented artists and once <br />again brings NC musical heritage to the world. <br />North Carolina’s <br />“stay at home” order <br />As a result of the pandemic and Executive Order 117, we canceled all <br />live events from March onward and, when possible, transitioned to <br />DocuSign Envelope ID: A9962EC9-DFAC-4481-A439-007E40357348