Kevin Richards, Bob Frank and Ray DeForest promote an appreciation of American Roots Music and how it reflects the history and spirt of our country.

 

 

 

 

The Music Performance Fund (MPF) is one of the finest examples of labor-management cooperation in the world. MPF makes it possible for people in the United States and Canada to enjoy, free of charge, live music in their community.

Over 25,000 individual performances are enjoyed each year by more than 20 million people, presented in venues as diverse as parks, shopping malls, churches, concert halls, veterans hospitals, nursing homes and in schools.

Today music programs in our public schools struggle to survive because governments at every level have cut back on their funding. Yet it is widely known that music education enhances a child's ability to read and learn. Responding to this situation, the MPF has made music education a major focus of its activities. In recent years 44% of all MPF audiences have been 18 years of age or younger. One recent MPF initiative is the awarding of hundreds of instrumental music scholarships to insure the availability of highly trained professional musicians for tomorrow's audiences.

To make more programs possible, co-sponsorship by a wide variety of organizations is encouraged. These co-sponsors receive full value for their participation. Virtually every dollar stays in the community and goes to pay the performing musicians.

Co-sponsors are encouraged to publicize their contributions to the public, and a wide variety of organizations, from the Cleveland Clinic and Cleveland State University to Willow Elementary School in Cleveland, have found it advantageous to participate.

Major corporations, local banks, department stores, newspapers, radio stations, municipal school districts, universities, state arts councils and hospitals are some of the organizations that co-sponsor MPF performances. The MPF assumes the cost and responsibility of processing payroll and insurance for all programs.

Where else can co-sponsors of public service events be sure that virtually their entire investment will go toward the actual presentations, and project costs will be shared? Every type and genre of music is encouraged and available for admission - free concerts to the public.

Any and all manner of musical styles and groups are eligible provided the venue is FREE and OPEN to the public in general. No commercial tie or special interest fund raisers may be connected with the performance.

Types of performances include Park Concerts, In-School time Educational Concerts, Mall Concerts, Senior Residency Programs, College Noon - Hour Programs, Special Day Public Events and virtually any admission - free musical event.

Proposals are submitted to the Local 4 forty-five (45) days prior to the event. We will determine if all funding criteria are met.

The proposal should contain the following information:

• Date, time and place of the event
• Co-sponsor's name, address and phone number
• Amount of co-sponsorship budget
• Musical ensemble leader's name, address and phone**
• Type of event, style of music requested and size of the ensemble

** Local 4 can provide a list of musical ensembles

For more information, contact Dennis Chandler (216) 771-1802 or www.mptf.org.