Celebrating the Arts!

“Art is about changing what we see in our everyday lives and representing it in such a way that it gives us hope.”
~ Kehinde Wiley, Nigerian-American portrait artist, including the Presidential portrait of Barack Obama

We kick off this week’s Good News celebrating the arts! Art brings beauty, meaning, and purpose. Whether on a canvas, in a concert hall, through our air pods, or at a dance party in our living rooms...the arts connect us through a common language and shared experience.

Increasingly, we may feel the confines of the four walls of our home. Embrace the arts and travel the world! The arts transport you to unknown lands and unseen places, touch your heart and move your spirit, build cultural understanding and enrichment, spark curiosity and feed your soul.

Around the world, artists, organizations, and cultural institutions are creating joy through moments of beauty and creativity accessed through our laptops. Here are some examples of how the arts unite our world in joy.🧡💙

1. In a magnificent demonstration of what has become viral commonplace -- group performance through video -- The Rotterdam Philharmonic performs Beethoven’s 9th -- Ode to Joy. Stijn te Hennepe and Mike Schaperclaus of the Philharmonic describe the experience and reaction, “Beethoven 9 is a piece that stands for unity and realizing we are all one at this time...and that, if we stand together, we can overcome. We think it’s a message needed today more than ever before. People from all over the world have found comfort in the music that we all love so much. Their messages and reactions keep us going and make us feel thankful. Everybody can contribute in these dark days when it is done from the heart! A creative mind never stops!!”
Check out the performance here: The Rotterdam Philharmonic performs Beethoven’s 9th -- Ode to Joy.

2. Grammy-award performing artist Rihanna has countless millions of fans of her beautiful voice and musicality. But, increasingly, her power as a social entrepreneur and agent of change is what inspires. In 2012 and 2018, Rihanna was celebrated by TIME as one of the 100 most influential people in the world for her role as global philanthropist through the Clara Lionel Foundation. This week, Rihanna committed $5 million to help limit the spread of COVID-19, through support of Feeding America, The World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund and International Rescue Committee. A key focus for Rihanna is “local food banks serving at-risk communities and the elderly” in the United States, the “acceleration of testing and care in countries like Haiti and Malawi”, and “protective equipment for frontline health workers and diagnostic labs” and “distribution of critical respiratory supplies.”

3. Actor Josh Gad is known as the voice of Olaf in “Frozen”. But, he’s taken on a new role -- that of babysitter and storyteller. Through his Twitter account, he lends his voice and optimistic personality to the reading of beloved children’s classics. As he explains to families, "I'm trying to provide at least 10 minutes of daycare to you and your families while we're going through this unprecedented global event. I love you all. I'm hoping you're all healthy and safe, wherever you are.” Check out #GadBookClub on twitter.

4. As schools closes, the lights dim on the theatre, chorus, band, orchestra, and other artist showcases for which students trained so hard. These celebrations of talent are the culmination of months and often years of dedication, practice, and sacrifice. Tony-award winning Broadway star Laura Benanti was determined to find these young artists an audience. She posted on Twitter: “Dark times for all. Trying to find some bright spots. If you were meant to perform in your High School musical and it was cancelled please post yourself singing and tag #sunshinesongs. I want to be your audience!!” The response has been overwhelming, with Benanti retweeting #sunshinesongs to her 146,000 followers -- including Hamilton creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda!

5. Pack your bags, we’re traveling the world! Thanks to the generosity and ingenuity of leading arts and cultural institutions, families can tour great museums like the Louvre, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History -- and our very own Museum of Fine Arts, go back to nature at the Atlanta Zoo and National Aquarium, and even check out Walt Disney World and Legoland. Wander, wonder, and dream! Explore the museums here!