Joan Cartwright Vocalist/Jazz Historian	Cynthia Saunders Vocalist/Composer
Concert & Lecture Traces the origins of Jazz from the West Coast of Africa to the clubs of Harlem in New York (1-2 hours)	The presentation highlights the life, times and tunes of America’s premiere Blues and Jazz Women from Bessie Smith to Betty Carter and beyond. Includes compositions of: Duke Ellington Fats Waller Billie Holiday Cole Porter Norman Mapp Joan Cartwright

AMAZING MUSICWOMEN ON TOUR
OVERVIEW

1. The project, what it will transform, and the impact it will have.

The Women in Jazz Concert & Lecture traces the origins of Jazz from the West Coast of Africa to the clubs of Harlem. The presentation highlights the life, times and tunes of America’s premiere Blues and Jazz Women from Bessie Smith to Betty Carter and beyond. Selections include compositions of: Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, Billie Holiday, Cole Porter, Norman Mapp, Joan Cartwright (1-2 hours)

WOMEN IN JAZZ ON TOUR is an ensemble of 7 musicians, including a quartet (piano, bass, drums, horn) and 3 vocalists that tell the story of the origins of Jazz from the West Coast of Africa to the clubs of Harlem. The touring group includes a road manager, publicist and transportation manager. The presentation highlights the life, times and music of America’s premiere Blues and Jazz composers, specifically, the women musicians and vocalists who brought this music to the forefront of popular culture in America and abroad.

This tour brings the history of women in jazz and blues to audiences that may, otherwise, not get this type of programming from K-12 audiences in inner-city, suburban and rural areas where this genre of music may not be presented or performed, ordinarily.

2.      How it will create lasting, visible change.

For over 10 years, Joan Cartwright has presented this program to over 6,000 K-12 and college students in South Florida, Georgia, China and Tokyo. The program has always been well received and students and teachers have commented on the enlightening quality of the program about women who make music. The program provides great incentive for females interested in becoming musicians.

3.      How we identified this opportunity and why the time is right for it.

In 1997, after touring Europe for seven years, Cartwright organized research I’d gathered about women who popularized jazz and blues music and developed the 45-minute format. Over a period of three years, Cartwright presented the program using 11 posters created for me during the first of three SEAS Grants Cartwright was awarded by Broward Schools in Florida. My audiences were elementary, middle and high schools, community colleges and universities, and libraries in Florida. In 2006, Cartwright gave the presentation at two international schools, one in Tianjin, China and the other in Tokyo, Japan. In 2007, the presentation was part of my offerings as Artist-in-Residence of the Pan African Bookfest at the African American Research Library and Cultural Center in Fort Lauderdale.

Due to the cuts in arts and music programming, this program provides a cultural program that both entertains and educates students and adults through musical performance and historical overview.

4.      Other partners or funders involved in our project.

Presently, our organization, WOMEN IN JAZZ SOUTH FLORIDA, INC. is the recipient of a $3,000 grant from the African American Research Library and Cultural Center in Fort Lauderdale. The grant will be fulfilled in 2 performances, one in October 2008 and the other in March 2009.

5.      How we measure success.

The success of this program has already been seen in several schools, libraries, cultural centers and museums in four counties in Florida; in Atlanta, Georgia; Tianjin, China and Tokyo, Japan. In April 2007, Cartwright presented WOMEN IN JAZZ as the Artist-in-Residence of the Pan African Bookfest in Broward County, Florida, as part of a National Endowment of the Arts Grant to Broward Libraries. [See references.]

6.      How we are uniquely qualified to implement our projects.

A 30-year veteran of the stage, Joan Cartwright has performed on five continents in 15 countries, singing jazz and blues. She is the author of IN PURSUIT OF A MELODY, which contains memoirs, lectures, 40 songs and 35 poems. She holds a B.A. in Music and Communications and a M.A. in Communications. She has taught Music, privately and at Eagle Charter Academy, in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida.

In 1998, Joan produced Gaiafest, A Celebration of Mother Earth with Women in Jazz, in Fort Lauderdale, for which she raised $106,000 in cash and in-kind services, with JM Family and American Airlines as major sponsors. This festival received significant media coverage. In subsequent years, Joan produced Women in Jazz on a lesser scale and continues to promote the concept.

In March 2007, WOMEN IN JAZZ SOUTH FLORIDA, INC. was incorporated as a non-profit organization, and in May 2008, the application for 501(c)(3) status was filed and approved on March 26, 2009. Cartwright is applying for grants to continue the promotion of WOMEN IN JAZZ and other programs by women who compose and perform jazz and blues music, globally.

7.      Organizational and financial capacity to implement our projects.

WOMEN IN JAZZ SOUTH FLORIDA, INC. was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in order to accept tax-deductible donations and sponsorship to promote women composers and performers, globally.

For 12 years, Ms. Cartwright and a pianist brought this performance to schools, colleges, universities, cultural centers, libraries and museums with a budget ranging from $300 to $1,500 per day. The goal is to expand the ensemble to include a quartet and additional vocalists to make it more indicative of the genre.

The budget for five (5) performances per week is $20,000 for the musical ensemble (7), plus road manager, publicist and transportation manager. An additional $35,000 per week is required for flights, ground transportation, hotel rooms, meals and booking agency fees (10%). The total amount per week for the touring ensemble is $55,000, which can be decreased by in-kind flights, lodging and meals.

One or more sponsors can benefit from logo recognition on all promotional materials designed to advertise the tour.

8.      How our projects will be sustained.

WIJSF, INC. accepts memberships in the amount of:

1. Founding member - $100
2. Regular member - $25
3. Student member - $10

In the non-profit corporation’s first year, we have 12 founding members and expect to double that number before January 2009. In Fall 2008, a $3,000 grant from the African American Research Library and Cultural Center will be implemented. The organization is seeking matching grants to continue performances. WIJSF, Inc. has submitted a proposal to the Broward Center for the Performing Arts to perform there in Fall 2009.

WIJSF, INC. is seeking grants and other corporate sponsorship for several projects, including:

WOMEN IN JAZZ

JC and Jazz Hotline

Diva JC

JAZZ GIANTS

CUEJAZZFEST 

JAZZ MEETS HIP HOP