PeaceTones is a nonprofit Initiative that works with musicians living in communities fractured by social conflict and economic inequality, empowering voices that aren’t traditionally heard through education on legal rights, marketing and technology. PeaceTones gives musicians with positive social messages the tools to protect their music and earn an income from it, fostering community development based on arts that is powerful, inspiring and valuable.
This October 16th, PeaceTones will be hosting a photo exhibition featuring the works of internationally acclaimed photographers Joshua Smith and Daniel Maissan, who accompanied PeaceTones on their March 2014 trip to Nairobi, Kenya. Both photographers volunteered their time and talents to capturing Nairobi life for young artists as they learn, struggle and strive as musicians. More information about the photographers and their portfolios here:
Daniel Maissan, Netherlands – http://danielmaissan.nl/
Joshua Smith, San Francisco – http://www.joshuajoshua.com/
The two week exhibition will launch with an open-house reception at Big Umbrella Studios (906 1/2 Divisadero @ McAllister, San Francisco, CA 94115) from 6-9pm and a short program at 7:30pm on October 16th. $15 tickets include wine, beer and light hors d’oevres, as well as a free digital music download for every guest. Music will be provided by Eve Fleishman.
ABOUT SONGS FOR JUSTICE
From February 24th to March 21st, 2014, the PeaceTones team traveled to Nairobi, Kenya for their PeaceTones Kenya: Songs For Justice project. They successfully organized musicians’ rights workshops for more than 200 musicians from the three Nairobi slums of Kibera, Babandogo, and Mathare. Working with accomplished local and international partners, from lawyers and community organizers to musicians, producers, and talent scouts (see peacetones.org/songs-for-justice/partners for full list), PeaceTones completed specialized legal, marketing, technology, and social justice “mini-courses” for participating musicians. The team also hosted two capstone peace concerts, and auditioned 180 of their workshop attendees to participate in an online artist discovery contest for original musicians, which began this month. The winner will record their first album with PeaceTones and become an ambassador for the organization earning 90% of profits for themselves and a local community development project of their choosing.
MORE INFORMATION
To learn more about the Songs For Justice campaign or the Music In Pictures photo exhibition, visit www.peacetones.org or email the team at info@peacetones.org.