The Roanoker Sept/October 2023 - 34

Arts & Culture
" ...go to places of discomfort
and provide comfort - it doesn't
only apply to the arts, it can be
anything... people need to know
that they are important. "
BRYAN " HARVEST BLAQUE " HANCOCK
bring that same experience back home with her. In her
opinion, Roanoke can get to that same level if " people
have a reason to be proud, have something to believe in
and have a focus on diversity. "
Many organizations, venues owners and decision-makers
understand the need for more diverse programming.
Not only to attract people to the city, but to encourage
current residents to stay, grow and be proud.
Aaron Kelderhouse, Marketing Director for the
Jefferson Center Foundation, says that the majority of
funding from donations and sponsors is earmarked to
cover expenses to help keep ticket prices low for many
of the acts brought into the venue. By offering a discounted
rate for partners such as the Roanoke Symphony
Orchestra (RSO) and Roanoke Ballet Theater (RBT), to
be able to have performances there is part of that same
mission. He adds that the Jefferson Center tends to have
the same " core group of supporters " and one of their goals
is to be able to offer more diverse programming to bring
in a broader audience; their 2023-24 season hosts a wide
array of acts for ticketholders, including Patty Griffin,
Nick Carter, Victor Wooten, Graham Nash, The Brandee
Younger Trio, Jonathan Kreisberg, Lee Fields and many
more.
The Jefferson Center also offers a wide range of programs
for students, including Music Lab and Master
Classes, and another program called " Outreach Outloud "
that visits different locations once a week to teach music
and also focus on teaching the kids about collaboration
and communication. Kelderhouse says the educational
programs do not turn potential students away due to
finances; scholarships are available, they just have to ask.
" Public schools offer programs for free because Fine
Arts is expensive and not attainable to a lot of families, "
says Whitney Johnson, Supervisor of Fine Arts for
Roanoke City Public Schools. Equipment rentals are
free for music programs, numerous field trips are taken
throughout the year and partnerships with organizations
such as the RSO and the RBT encourage students'
participation. Johnson is enthusiastic about Fine Arts
in Schools being a part of the strategic plan in Roanoke
City. " This shows that the school board and superintendent
believe it to be important... this type of programming
is a feather in our caps. "
Bryan " Harvest Blaque " Hancock, a Roanoke native,
is a musician, curator and supporter of spoken word and
poetry, and Artist-In-Residence for Carilion's Healing
Arts program. The anthem for the City, named " It's
Here, " written and performed by Harvest Blaque and
entrepreneur and musician J.P. Powell, was made for
distribution to those considering making Roanoke their
home. Hancock also works with children through Boys
and Girls Clubs of Southwest Virginia, programming
and adolescents through the Healing Arts program. He
believes that if " there are areas that need mentorship,
then that needs to happen... go to places of discomfort
and provide comfort - it doesn't only apply to the arts,
it can be anything... people need to know that they are
important. "
This is a major step to encourage growth. If people
do not feel that they, and their voices, are important,
then they have no desire to become involved. We can
have all the initiatives and programs but if people aren't
involved, growth and inclusivity cannot happen. To be
the catalyst for the change that we need, it has to be an
all-in situation - ask the hard questions, go to a concert
or an exhibit that you would not normally attend, support
diversity in the open and not only behind closed doors
and be receptive to change. Growth doesn't happen in
places of comfort - get uncomfortable. I
34
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023
TheRoanoker.com
COURTESY OF BRYAN HANCOCK
http://www.TheRoanoker.com
The Roanoker Sept/October 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Roanoker Sept/October 2023
