In this episode, Mariam sits down with Ariel Davis (she/hers) to talk about her work supporting organizations that uplift cultural expression across diverse communities at The Arts Administrators of Color Network and how she found her path in the impact space. From playing the French horn to working in hospitality and restaurants, to now traveling across the country to talk to arts administrators, listen to our conversation to get inspired to do more for your community in the first conversation of 2023.

Ariel is the co-founder of The Arts Administrators of Color Network, a non-profit organization she helped establish in 2016, where she stewarded programs that provide professional development and networking opportunities for arts leaders throughout the United States. She currently serves as co-chair of the board for the organization, and led the board of directors through its strategic planning process in 2021. Previously, she served as Senior Manager of Impact Communications at The Save the Music Foundation, where she supported the organization in producing content that showcased the impact of the organization’s 25 year body of work. Ariel also supported the establishment of The Lewis Prize for Music, an organization that provides financial support for after school and out of school music organizations across the country, where she led their communications efforts. She also served as Program Manager for the Social Impact department at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where she helped manage large scale projects and events geared towards amplifying the work of artists throughout the performing arts sector on local and national levels.

Ariel’s passion for cultural expression began onstage, as a French Horn player. She has had the opportunity to perform with ensembles across the world, from the Grammy’s stage with Lizzo, to an international festival in Guadeloupe celebrating the work of composer Chevalier de Saint George. She takes as many opportunities to visit her hometown of Detroit, Michigan as she can, and is a graduate of Howard University, where she obtained her degree in Music Business.

Questions? Feedback? Ideas? Contact [email protected]

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