Where do we find inspiration? artists. history. culture. communities. young people. Inspiration comes in many forms, from many places. We create programs and find creative solutions inspired by the indivuals and communities where we work.

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Curatorial

Curator, August Wilson Center for African American Culture • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (2007)

Developing a festival concept and program for the first performance festival of August Wilson Center for Africana Culture currently in the process of building a new, state-of-the-art, multi-disciplinary venue. With its future location at Liberty Avenue in downtown Pittsburgh, is scheduled to open to the public 2008. The festival premieres October 2007 featuring new works by Pittsburgh artists: Staycee Walters Pearl, Greer Reed and Sean Jones, Kyle Abraham, Chris Ivey and more. Link:www.africanaculture.org

Curator and Producer, panPittsburgh • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (2005 - Ongoing)

panPittsburgh is a series of events and performances to present the best in steelband performance to Pittsburgh adiences. Visit panPittsburgh.org to learn more.

Curator, Philadelphia Live Arts Festival & Philly Fringe • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2006, 2007)

Working with producing director Nick Stuccio, to program this multiarts, international festival featuring cutting-edge performances of over thirty productions each year in multiple venues. Together, with the Philly Fringe Festival, the Philadelphia Live Arts Festival draws over 45,000 people, multiple venues to see innovative work, and interact with over 1,600 artists performing in over 1,000 performances. www.livearts-fringe.org

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Strategic Planning, Concept Development and Program Design

Program Planning (pre-design), Museum of African American Music • Newark, New Jersey (2005)

Working with Hillier Architects and museum planners, LORD Cultural Resources to develop a program plan for the new Museum of African American Music in Newark. The Program Plan is an invaluable tool during the facility design process, as it considers the client's goals, budgetary and space constraints and develops a range of likely programs that will occur in the space for the purpose of developing the facility plan and design. Link: www.moaam.org

Content Development/Interpretative Plan, Museum of the African Diaspora • San Francisco, California
Content Development Manager/Exhibition Development - 2002 w/ consulting partner Lord Cultural Resources. The design team includes: The Freelon Group Architects, Sussman Prejza Designers, and Batwin and Robin Productions. The "Content" refers to the museum's interpretative plan - the core themes and stories of the museum. Beginning with a series of planning sessions, we organized the visitor experience into four themes: origins, movement, adaptation and transformation.  Core stories were identified and research conducted to develop the Exhibition Plan. working with the designers, the museum's exhibit designs were completed. The museum's opening date is 2005. Link: www.moadsf.org

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Arts Education

Program Development, Northside Urban Pathways Charter School • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Developed and implemented steelpan music program for middle and high school students. Now in its 5 th year the Northside Urban Pathways Charter School Steelband Program in partnership with Solomon Steelpan Company. In its first year that NUP steelpan students had the opportunity to perform in Tribute to Harry Belafonte and Gordon Parks Jr. at Carnegie Music Hall. Since then, the students have performed at various community events.   Through the steelband program, students learn fundamental musical concepts and music appreciation, principles of performance and gain exposure to a variety of musical forms. Link: www.solomonsteelpan.com

Program Development, Propel Schools • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Facilitated a series of sessions to develop foundation statements - mission, vision and value from which the educational program was developed. After determining the goals for the enrichment program, I worked with the client team to develop the program structure including student experience, staff positions, identifying artists and identifying funding sources.   For the 2003 - 2004 academic year we programmed the first year of enrichment activities with emerging artists and arts organizations: Kyle Holbrook (visual); Pittsburgh Dance Ensemble (various forms of African dance); Nego Gato, Inc. (capoeria); Solomon Steelpan Company (steelband instruments) and artists Vema Sami and Chassity Cheatham (spoken word). We worked with the artists and school personnel to develop six-week "enrichment modules" which included classroom activities and public performance or exhibition for parents, families and the community.  Link: www.propelschools.org

 

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Special Projects

Facilitator, Artist U • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2006 - 2007)

Working with program creator Andrew Simonet and co-facilitator Jen Childs to develop the curriculum and program. Artists U is is a nine-month professioal development program for twelve independent artists. Link:www.artistsu.org

 

"Diversity Revisited: A Conversation on Diversity in the Arts" co presented with the Association of Arts Presenters as part of the National Performing Arts Convention. DiversityRevisited

2004 National Urban League Annual Convention, in partnership with The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and the Multicultural Arts Initiative I produced programming to accompany the exhibition of photographs by Charles "Teenie" Harris organized and toured by the Westmoreland Museum of Art.   The three weeks of programming included performances by Pittsburgh based artists such as the Pittsburgh Playwright Theater Company, Kuntu Repertory Theatre, the Black Photographers Group and the Bridgespotters. 

For a detailed experience record, contact us: info@janerasolomon.com