arts ecosystem

Welcome to the third installment of MMI’s Emergency Relief Fund Artist Interview series! Today, MMI Works student intern Jacolby and Relief Fund recipient Jasmine chat about Jasmine’s poem highlighting her perspective on living during a pandemic. Jasmine’s poem was commissioned through MMI’s 2020 Covid-19 Emergency Relief Fund last May. Take a few moments to learn what inspired […]

Welcome to the very first installment of MMI’s Emergency Relief Fund Artist Interview series! Today, MMI Works student intern Sydney and Relief Fund recipient Nadifah chat about the art series Nadifah created in response to the effects of self-isolation in quarantine. Nadifah’s series was commissioned through MMI’s 2020 Covid-19 Emergency Relief Fund last May. Take […]

Welcome to MMI’s Fellow Spotlight series featuring our amazing teaching artists. Not only do MMI Fellows lend their talents to supporting and engaging Memphis youth all over the city, but they also help build and sustain our arts ecosystem through their independent projects. Today, meet violinist and violist Rachel Johnson! Rachel is a string instrument […]

This year, we learned to get comfortable with change. When it became apparent that our MMI Works summer program wouldn’t be happening in person, our fearless team leaders quickly and carefully adapted the program to the virtual world. But while a few pieces of the MMI Works puzzle have changed, most have not. At its […]

Welcome to MMI’s Fellow Spotlight series featuring our amazing teaching artists. Not only do MMI Fellows lend their talents to supporting and engaging Memphis youth all over the city, but they also help build and sustain our arts ecosystem through their independent projects. Today, meet clarinetist and Renaissance woman Mersadie Wells! Mersadie has been with […]

Memphis is music. It’s a city inseparable from the creatives and musicians who have shaped its culture, changed its politics, and built and rebuilt communities across Shelby County, from Frayser to Soulsville and beyond. Memphis’ list of music bona fides is a mile long, and while we may not be the biggest city, our musical […]

Over the past six months, the COVID-19 pandemic has had an outsized and devastating impact on artists and musicians. Memphis creatives—whether student artists or professionals—have lost income due to cancelled gigs, lessons, and more. So, back in April, Memphis Music Initiative established an Emergency Relief Fund to provide some short-term, immediate relief for the individual […]

Welcome to MMI’s Fellow Spotlight series featuring our amazing teaching artists. Not only do MMI Fellows lend their talents to supporting and engaging Memphis youth all over the city, but they also help build and sustain our arts ecosystem through their independent projects.  Today, meet singer Calvin Barnes! Calvin is a producer, musical director, songwriter, […]

“Each year at Memphis Music Initiative, we have the honor of working with over 4,000 young people across Memphis, with a focus on improving black and brown students’ equitable access to high quality music engagement. In 2019, we continued to grow as a direct service provider, and as a funder, and as advocates for our […]

MMI is back in the news. This morning, our Executive Director Amber Hamilton appeared on Channel 24’s Local Memphis morning show via Skype. She spoke with anchor Kelsie Cairns about how COVID-19 is impacting Memphis artists, musicians, and young people, and how MMI is responding to the challenge. Click here to watch the full interview! […]