Black Music City is back, and continuing to build.
The grant project that showcases and supports Black creators in the Philadelphia area — a recurring collaboration between WXPN, WRTI, and REC Philly — today announced its plans for year three, and once again is increasing its financial impact. For 2023, Black Music City plans to deploy a total of $125,000 to its grantees, an increase from the $100,000 awarded in 2022, and the $48,000 in the program’s inaugural year, 2021; this growth comes thanks to increased sponsorship and funding, and will be disbursed in grants ranging from $1,500 to $5,000.
Black Music City grantees create work in a spectrum of mediums — some are podcasters, some are poets, some are painters and photographers. Underneath the umbrella of creativity is a unifying principle: grantees must create a new artistic work that is inspired by the impact and legacy of Black music in Philadelphia. Winners will be chosen by a panel of experts including singer-songwriters Donn T, Laurin Talese, and Seraiah Nicole, DJs Greg Bryant of WRTI and John Morrison of WXPN, as well as attorney and scholar Timothy N. Welbeck.
Interested in participating? The application form is now open, and the deadline is January 10th, 2023,