ABINGTON, Pa. — Penn State Abington invites the community to a conversation centering on "Black History, Music, and Culture as Catalysts for Communities of Care: Categorizing Artistic Expression," led by arts funder and music critic Don Palmer at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 29.
Following a light dinner, attendees will explore the complex relationship between art, culture and commerce, and chart a future in which creativity can thrive in communities of care. Palmer will highlight the implications of choices made by artists and their representatives. He also will delve into the potential long-term implications for artistic discovery, monetization of creativity, and integration of art in communities.
Palmer's experiences will stimulate the conversation, and he will integrate his professional perspective, which spans the vinyl and digital ages.
Palmer attended Pomona College and the University of Nairobi. After college, he hitchhiked from Nigeria to Senegal before moving to Wisconsin where he worked as a journalist and disc jockey. After moving to New York City in 1981, Palmer was hired as an editor at Pete Seeger’s Sing Out magazine and in the mayor’s press office. He worked as a speechwriter and joined the New York State Council for the Arts as an analyst and later director of its Individual Artists Program.
Palmer has published more than 100 articles on jazz, blues, world, rap and hip-hop music in The Village Voice, The New York Times and other publications. He consults with the Maryland Arts Council and serves on the community board of an NPR station in the Baltimore area. Palmer has traveled extensively across Africa and completed speaking and journalistic engagements in Sri Lanka and several Caribbean islands.
Please pre-register to attend this dinner event, which will be held in the Lares Building at Penn State Abington, located at 1600 Woodland Road in Abington. The presentation is sponsored by the Penn State Abington Office of Inclusive Excellence.
"Black Music, History, and Culture" is the second workshop in the Communities of Care series. On March 25, the event will highlight women's history, disabilities and communities of care. Complete this form to learn more about Abington's community offerings.
About Penn State Abington
Penn State Abington provides an affordable, accessible and high-impact education resulting in the success of a diverse student body. It is committed to student success through innovative approaches to 21st-century public higher education within a world-class research university. With more than 3,100 students, Penn State Abington is a residential campus that offers baccalaureate degrees in 25 majors, accelerated master's degrees, undergraduate research, the Schreyer Honors College, NCAA Division III athletics and more.