Our Work
For over sixty-five years, our festivals have shown that music has the ability to change lives. Our mission is to foster the legacy and expand the impact of our festivals by supporting artists and music education programs year-round, across the country. Click here to view our 2022 Annual Report.
ARTIST GRANTS
INSTRUMENTS DONATED
PROGRAM GRANTS
STUDENTS SERVED
Supporting Music Education
We believe every person deserves access to music education, regardless of socioeconomic status.
Numerous studies have shown that music education helps to develop communication skills, improve test scores and build confidence. By supporting music education initiatives across the country, we’re not only empowering students to reach their full potential but also preserving the genres of jazz and folk music. Click here to view our 2022 Annual report.
AFTERSCHOOL MUSIC PROGRAM
The Newport Festivals Workshops Program teaches students about songwriting, audio engineering, jazz history, podcasting, music careers and more. This free program is taught by professional musicians that have performed at the Newport Folk and Jazz Festivals.
INSTRUMENT DONATIONS
We place new and gently used instruments in the hands of deserving students all across the country, from Puerto Rico to Portland OR and Colorado to Newport County. To request an instrument, click here.
PROGRAM FUNDING
Through our Artist Gives program, we have provided grants to hundreds of music education nonprofits across the country. Every artist on our Jazz and Folk lineups is given the opportunity to recommend a music program – we then make the grant on their behalf.
AMBASSADOR PROGRAM
We bring artist ambassadors directly to our partner programs to connect, share, and inspire students. This includes our traveling Newport Jazz Assembly Bands that present assembly programs on the history of Jazz for schools in Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Michigan.
Supporting Musicians
Artists are at the core of the Newport Festivals community.
Their performances fill us with hope, bring us together in celebration and support us during the good times and the bad. Now it’s our turn to give back. The COVID-19 crisis has proven particularly devastating for musicians whose livelihood is dependent on congregation. As a result, we established the Newport Festivals Musician Relief Fund to provide financial relief to musicians through micro grants and content grants.
Preserving Our Festivals
More than just music festivals, our events are celebrations of the work we do year round.
Founded in 1954 and 1959 respectively, the Newport Jazz and Folk Festivals have always strived to present artists who respect and honor jazz and folk music traditions, while at the same time reflecting the changes in trends and the times in which they live. As the first modern music festivals in the US, they continue, to this day, to be leaders and innovators.
NEWPORT SESSIONS
Explore our series of free lectures, tutorials, conversations, and performances meant to inspire the next generation of players and fans. Content grants have been provided to many of the participating artists.
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
Your donation to Newport Festivals Foundation will help ensure the future of our festivals and support musicians and music education programs across the country.