WeDC Fest

Jazz as an arts system has no one single benefactor. Revenue sources for jazz in DC is as broad as other art forms and can vary from public funding, foundations, corporations, individuals and earned income support. In recent years, DC jazz presenters have weathered an economic recession, the growth of jazz presenters regionally, the expansion of jazz programming at non-traditional institutions, and the changing platforms of performance participation, among others. Like other arts forms, direct public funding of jazz flows from a combination of federal, regional and local agencies. Public funding candidates are subject to rigorous review and while direct grants do not fund the majority of jazz, direct funding does provide major assistance in the presentation of jazz, enables preservation, stimulates art creation, and enhances arts education. A keynote presentation on jazz funding will peel back the funding veil of jazz support by direct public funders and explore federal and local agencies’ current role in jazz presentation in DC. Following a presentation, panelists will discuss the case for funding art, and various ways to look at the diverse funding pool, and lay the groundwork for a more expansive discussion for presenters. While focused on jazz as an art form, this panel is open to all artists, creative entrepreneurs and nonprofits representatives.