Guided by the Trauma-Informed Teaching Artist & Artistic Director of PHonk!Philly, Elaine Smith Holton, this grant supports the initial stage of a two-year project focused on researching the experiences and creative expressions of Black American Jewish artists. Highlighting a dynamic demographic positioned at the intersection of historically rich and diverse communities, this project will involve interviews with five Black American Jewish artists and creatives every three months, exploring their identities, artistic influences, and contributions to connecting Black and Jewish communities. Ultimately, these interviews will lead to the production of a podcast series in 2024, followed by the creation of a digital archive in 2025, housing the collected research data, with potential opportunities to showcase Black American Jewish artists’ creative works.
If you are a Black Jewish musician, dancer, visual artist or artist of any medium whose work connects to your Jewish life, you are invited to participate in an interview! If you are interested, reach out to phonkphilly@gmail.com.
This grant was stewarded by the JoCI Philanthropy Fellows.