SPRINGDALE, Ark. (August 24, 2022)–CACHE today announces the launch of the 2022-23 Music Organizations Advancement Coalition (MOAC), a two-year program led by CACHE and funded by the Walton Family Foundation.
The coalition—eight Northwest Arkansas nonprofits—will receive $1.2 million over a two-year period, with additional funds dedicated to professional development and creative collaboration. 2022-23 MOAC recipients are the House of Songs, City Sessions, Black Fret, the Music Education Initiative, NWA Jazz Society, Music Moves Arkansas, the Teen Action and Support Center (TASC), and Ra-Ve Cultural Foundation.
“The establishment of MOAC will allow us to work together across all these amazing projects, building on the inspiring work these organizations have already been doing for years to keep furthering a cohesive and collaborative music ecosystem that’s greater than the sum of its parts,” said Chief Strategy & Creative Officer Jesse Elliott.
As grantees and coalition members, the organizations will strengthen core competencies for nonprofit organizations and common areas of need such as DEIA, board and leadership development, financial sustainability, and communications and storytelling. The coalition will also develop talent and put on complimentary shows and events at venues across the region. They will begin working together this month.
The establishment of this coalition furthers CACHE’s commitment to supporting Northwest Arkansas’ long-standing, dynamic music scene, which produces $389 million in economic output and is responsible for 3,972 jobs. Since its formation, CACHE has identified several major opportunities in this work, including developing platforms for the region’s diverse communities and creating grants, residencies, exchanges, and workshops for musicians.
CACHE has produced, hosted, and consulted on more than 100 events region-wide, from festivals and music series to pop-up shows and incubators. These include Groundwaves (a six-month hip-hop open mic and mentorship program led by independent hip-hop legend Murs), FreshGrass, Live at Turnbow, FORMAT Festival, the Momentary’s Courtyard Series, and more. Between 2020 and 2021, CACHE connected 98 individual musicians and 15 music nonprofits to additional grants and funding opportunities.
The coalition’s future performances and events will be showcased on the Arkansas Creative Calendar.
###
About CACHE
CACHE formed in 2019 to act as the central regional agency committed to connecting, supporting, and developing the region’s arts, culture, and creative communities. CACHE will bring cohesive vision and strategy to the region’s organic creative activities, uplifting local artists, the nonprofit sector, municipal leadership, creative industries, and arts philanthropy and investments. CACHE programs include the Arts and Culture Bridge Fund, OZCast, region-wide cultural planning, the Music Ecosystem Strategy and Action Plan, ARt Connect, and the Arts Resource Desk. Learn more at cachecreate.org.