Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc.™
Receives Second Grant
from Rhode Island Foundation
to Help Underwrite Friday at Fort Adams
to Showcase Emerging Performers
A grant from the Rhode Island Foundation last year helped the Festival stage a third full day of performances for the first time in decades.
“We are grateful that the Rhode Island Foundation has chosen to invest in the Newport Festivals Foundation for the second consecutive year to help us not only bring new and exciting music to the area, but also to encourage more visitors to Newport for a longer duration,” said George Wein, Producer of the Newport Jazz Festival and Chairman of the Newport Festivals Foundation. “Over the past four years, we have presented 45 young artists that should become known to jazz fans, and we’re pleased that Friday at the Fort continues to be a perfect platform for nurturing the future of jazz.”
This year, the Foundation awarded $35,000 as part of its grantmaking in the arts and $5,000 through the Thomas DePetrillo and Carol Keefe Fund.
Non-stop music, including concerts with Snarky Puppy, John Hollenbeck, Ambrose Akinmusire, Matana Roberts’ Coin Coin, Lucky Peterson, Bria Skonberg, Christian McBride and the University of RI Newport Big Band, takes place on three stages from 11:30 am - 6:00 pm on Friday, July 31.
The Newport Jazz Festival® presented by Natixis Global Asset Management takes place July 31-August 2, at Fort Adams and the International Tennis Hall of Fame at the Newport Casino with Chris Botti, Jon Batiste and Stay Human, Jamie Cullum, Cassandra Wilson, Dr. John, Arturo Sandoval, Jack DeJohnette’s Made in Chicago, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Ms. Lisa Fischer & Grand Baton and many others.
For more information and tickets (including specially-discounted $20 student tickets), please visit www.newportjazzfest.org.
The Newport Festivals Foundation was founded by George Wein in 2010 to build and continue the legacies of the famed Newport Jazz Festival® and Newport Folk Festival®. Under the auspices of the Foundation, the Newport Jazz Festival presents performers who respect and honor jazz music traditions, and at the same time reflect the changes in today's musical trends. Through the establishment of partnerships with local high schools and colleges/universities, the Foundation will present programs to educate young people about jazz music as presented at the annual festivals. For more information, please visit www.newportfestivalsfoundation.org.