Silkroad, the nonprofit organization founded by celebrated cellist Yo-Yo Ma ’76 and home of the Grammy Award-winning Silkroad Ensemble, has been awarded $3 million by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The largest gift in Silkroad’s 21-year history will support a four-year capacity-building effort to expand educational initiatives that are steeped in social justice and equity, and to create new musical projects that connect people and inspire hope. These programs will be fulfilled under the creative leadership of Artistic Director Rhiannon Giddens.
“I am so excited for the opportunity to partner with The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and for their trust in our vision,” said Giddens. “This grant is hugely meaningful at a time during which we are focused on re-envisioning Silkroad’s artistic and education programs and growing our social impact work. Thanks to the Foundation, we will be able to realize our ambitious goals and sustain our commitment to social justice and equity through music and arts education.”
The Mellon Foundation’s significant investment will enable the board, artists, and staff to grow Silkroad’s artistic and programmatic output — with an emphasis on new music, art, and education programs that carry relevance and impact for today — in a sustainable way.
Executive Director Kathy Fletcher added, “We firmly believe in the universal, shared humanity that comes through music, and the healing nature that the arts can possess. With this generous grant award, Silkroad is poised to continue breaking down boundaries and accomplishing its mission of connecting people across race, religion, culture, and language.”
The $3 million grant funds will be allocated to build capacity over four years as follows:
Supporting the artists who create, execute, and lead Silkroad’s programs, including new projects such as: “Home Within,” an artistic response to the Syrian conflict; “Phoenix Rising,” an artistic response to the COVID-19 pandemic; “Powered by Womxn,” an initiative to uplift and empower the voices of womxn; and “The Railroad Project,” a landmark, multi-year effort that will encompass commissions of new music, educational residencies and curriculum development, a new album and multi-part documentary series, a nationwide tour, and community-based events and site-specific visual arts.
Creating an internship program that provides professional development experiences for emerging administrators and valuable training to the next generation of arts leaders.
Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) through ongoing anti-racism discovery and training in partnership with Overcoming Racism and Sozo Vision; this work will be facilitated across all areas, including artistic, education, administration, and governance.
Underwriting compensation for the artistic and administrative staff who are vital to Silkroad’s success, as well as the contractors and firms who complement their efforts.
Increasing organizational sustainability through a new cash reserve.
“I would like to thank the trustees and staff of the Mellon Foundation for their visionary investment in Silkroad and our important efforts to connect people across cultures by using music and the arts to build bridges toward an equitable, hopeful, and just world,” said board of directors chair Lori Winters Samuels. “This gift is transformational and will have a profound impact on our work and our mission, enabling us to build capacity across the organization and create incredible artistry and educational programs that deepen and expand our social impact.”
“The Mellon Foundation’s extraordinary generosity will allow Rhiannon and Silkroad to continue building the creativity, access, and collaboration that we all need to thrive. I can’t wait to join them on the journey,” said founder Yo-Yo Ma.
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