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THE MUSICAL LIFE: Helping in Hard Times Wendy Atlas Oxenhorn was profiled recently in the Chronicle of Philanthropy (Feb. 19, 2004), in an article about her work as executive director of the Jazz Foundation of America. Founded in 1989, the non-profit organization considers its mission to be both arts preservation and social service: by perpetuating the art and craft of the country's early jazz greats, and by helping those very artists cope with the challenges of being elderly and without pensions or health insurance. The organization that Oxenhorn leads now serves about 300 musicians each year, locating employment opportunities, obtaining medical care or abuse treatment, even paying some bills. The organization accomplishes its work by raising cash as well as finding networks of doctors, social workers, and other businesses that are interested in donating services to needy, older musicians. Read the Chronicle of Philanthropy article, which follows Oxenhorn on a busy day of helping artists and keeping her shoestring organization together, or read a related Nov. 2003 article in All About Jazz Visit the Jazz Foundation of America
In a similar vein, the New York Times recently covered the efforts of Tim Duffy and his non-profit Music Maker Foundation, described as "part recording company, part artist management service and part social welfare agency." Duffy's work began while he was recording old-time music in the mountains of North Carolina while a student of folklore. Not only was he becoming frustrated that his recordings would primarily sit, unheard, in library archives, but also he was noticing that the objects of his research were usually mired in poverty, often without heat, health care or musical instruments. The Foundation serves around 100 artists, creating performance opportunities and distributing CDs of their music, as well as sending checks to take care of rent and medical bills. Read the New York Times article [fee required], or free via a distribution partner Visit the Music Maker Foundation |
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