Arts Ecosystem Grant

We are trying to create a never-before-seen online network of international professional musicians that will not only create community support for disabled artists themselves but will lend visibility and make these artists readily accessible to organizations who are interested in diversifying their rosters and including disability in their work in a more tangible way. Now when an organization like the Recording Academy or Folk Alliance say that they want to be more proactive about including disability in their diversity and inclusion efforts, we can point them to this directory and they can find the artists that fit their vision and hire them. Our measurable outcome is the creation of the website itself. If each RAMPD Professional Member has an online profile that is easy to locate and contains samples of work, press photos, notable accomplishments, a short biography, and contact information - then we'll know that RAMPD has accomplished its goal set forth in the Arts Ecosystem Grant. Our work will be a success if RAMPD has a working website that devotes a separate landing page (or an individual online profile) for each professional artist. This membership database will bring visibility to the disability music community and make it easier for industry experts, festivals, reporters, and organizations to find these artists and hire them. We will manage this website and the general membership through the RAMPD Membership Committee. We will seek to continually refine and improve the website and database as funds or volunteer hours from web designers become available. By the end of the grant period, our work will be successful if we have a working website that features profiles for each RAMPD member. The intangible goals we are aiming to meet are fostering a community of disabled music professionals, and visibility in the industry because of this resource guide. Ultimately the goal of RAMPD is mainstreaming disability culture and uplifting disabled music professionals.