In response to the needs identified by roots musicians through our national survey, Whippoorwill Arts developed four interconnected program areas that support them and advance a more equitable music ecosystem in local communities:

Advocacy: Through Advocacy and our Fair Play Initiative (FPI), we collaborate with municipalities, arts organizations, businesses, and philanthropists to better support local musicians. FPI priorities are identified collectively by a diverse coalition of musicians across ages, cultures, musical genres, and union membership statuses. Current priorities include establishing local wage standards, expanding job opportunities, and advancing equitable hiring practices.

Music aLIVE: Through Music aLIVE, we organize free community concerts and create guaranteed paid performance opportunities for musicians. Concerts are curated for underserved communities in non-traditional settings through partner agencies such as senior centers, prisons, rehabilitation centers, veterans’ homes, and K–12 public schools. We intentionally uplift musicians of color, LGBTQIA+ musicians, and disabled musicians, and provide ethical pay of $200/hour for performances that are free to partner agencies and communities. To date, Music aLIVE has produced 965 concerts, created opportunities for 485 musicians, and brought live music to 48,000 audience members.

Fellowships: We recognize and support under-the-radar musicians who have demonstrated sustained accomplishment, commitment, and artistic excellence. Fellows receive $25,000 over two years, undertake a professional music project, and join the Whippoorwill Fellows community for professional development, retreats, and performance opportunities. Since 2021, 17 fellows have been supported across four cohorts.

Festival Partnerships: Each year, Whippoorwill Arts collaborates with festival organizations such as the Freshgrass Foundation and Northwest Folklife to present live music featuring regional and national roots musicians while promoting equitable pay, community-centered booking practices, and broader visibility for roots artists.