Earlier this year, the Morris Performing Arts Center announced a $30 million fundraising campaign for its 100th anniversary. At least $1 million of money would fund an Equity in the Arts endowment, which officials say will be shaped by community input.
“I think it’s really important that as we prepare ourselves to celebrate the last 100 years of the Morris, that we are creating a next 100 years that is sustainable, just, inclusive and equitable,” Aaron Perri, executive director of South Bend Venues, Parks & Arts, said.
The endowment’s goal is to provide equal access to the arts, especially for children. In a joint statement, Kareemah Fowler and Marvin Curtis – who co-chair the fundraising campaign’s Equity in the Arts subcommittee – said the endowment “can help level the playing field for students and families from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds.”
Perri said the endowment’s programming could look many different ways – based on community input, he said it could mean programs to attract diverse acts to the Morris, to make sure disposable income isn’t a barrier to attending shows or to educate and entertain the next generation of artists.
“What are the barriers to access? Why don’t you come? What would make you come more often?” Perri said. “We hope to glean some of those things and craft a program around it.”
VPA and the Equity in the Arts subcommittee will hold meetings through next week:
- Tuesday, June 8 at the Howard Park Event Center (219 S. St. Louis Blvd., South Bend)
- Wednesday, June 9 at Harrison Elementary School (3302 W. Western Ave., South Bend)
- Tuesday, June 15 at Pinhook Community Center (2801 Riverside Dr., South Bend)
- Wednesday, June 16 at La Casa de Amistad (New Location: 3423 S. Michigan St. South Bend)
All meetings will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
South Bend Venues, Parks & Arts is a financial supporter of WVPE.
Contact Gemma atgdicarlo@wvpe.orgor follow her on Twitter at@gemma_dicarlo.
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