upcoming grant deadline: 05/15/2024

upcoming grant deadline: 05/15/2024

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Songs in the Key of Free

Rise Up: Songs and Stories from SCI-Graterford

Join the Painted Bride on June 16 at 7:30 PM for Rise Up: Songs and Stories from SCI-Graterford, in partnership with Mural Arts’ Voices project and the Curtis Institute of Music.

Songs in the Key of Free presents world premieres of nine songs composed in a series of ongoing workshops inside a maximum-security prison. A live band of Philadelphia-area musicians including Alexis Simmons, the Anna Crusis Choir, and TwizzMatic performs the songs while multimedia footage from inside Graterford connects the audience to the songwriters. These performances, photos, videos, and audio interviews reveal the creativity and humanity that thrive even from behind bars.

With lyrics and music written entirely by workshop participants, songs on the program address topics including the criminal justice system, family relationships maintained or lost through incarceration, Black Lives Matter, and the school-to-prison pipeline.

Their debut EP will be available, featuring “I Can’t Breathe,” “Welcome Home,” and “Million Dollar Blocks,” all recorded inside Graterford.

Reception following with food and drink. Free and open to the public.

RSVP here.

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