Are you a musician looking to promote your work in the St. Louis area? There are many resources available to help you get started. From grants and programs to organizations and initiatives, there are plenty of ways to get your music out there and make a difference in your local community.
Grants and Programs
If you're part of a non-profit arts organization, you can take advantage of grants and programs specifically designed to benefit groups like yours.Many state and local art agencies offer grants to artists directly or to organizations that connect with local artists and help fund their projects. Check out our grants page for local art agencies to get an idea of the types of grants that are normally offered, and contact your local art agency through our art services directory. The National Blues Museum (NBM) has been dedicated to preserving the historical legacy of blues music since its founding, understanding that preserving the past goes hand in hand with supporting today's blues musicians. This philosophy is reflected in all aspects of their programming as a museum and concert hall, and was the driving force behind their participation in Communities for Immunity.
The NBM recognizes that hard-working musicians have always been essential to making music and their community thrive, so when faced with the COVID-19 pandemic, they focused their programming on serving the community and supporting local musicians.
Organizations
Sweet Relief Musicians Fund was founded in 1994 with the mission of providing assistance to professional musicians of all genres who may struggle to make ends meet due to illness, disability, or age-related problems. Jeff Campbell organized a concert by street musicians for the benefit of the homeless in 1992, which eventually led to the formation of Hungry For Music, a non-profit organization dedicated to expanding musical opportunities for children. Music Fund is another humanitarian project that supports musicians and music schools in conflict zones and developing countries.War Child is an organization that helps children in war-affected communities recover their childhood through access to education, opportunities, and justice. They also play an active role in raising public awareness of the impact of war on communities and the shared responsibility to act.
Aesthetic Attributes
The power of music can be used for more than just entertainment - it can also be used as a tool for social change. A NEW framework offers 11 aesthetic attributes defined by artists that enhance the power of arts and culture to motivate change in communities.Ethnomusicologist Bonnie McConnell researched artists who promoted polio vaccination in the Gambia and found that “more than just the transfer of information, musical participation can engage people socially and emotionally, creating the necessary conditions for deeper levels of participation”. There are many resources available for musicians looking to promote their work within the local community of St. Louis, Missouri. From grants and programs to organizations and initiatives, there are plenty of ways to get your music out there and make a difference.
