In coming weeks, hundreds of singers, dancers - even roller skaters in Viking helmets - will surprise crowds in four cities across the United States. The pop up performances are all part of celebrating the 1,000th (yep, 1,000th!) Random Act of Culture™, where Knight Foundation brings classical performers out of the symphony halls and into the streets and our everyday lives. Knight’s program will culminate in these four special events across the country, taking place now through mid-September. We talked with Dennis Scholl, VP/Arts and creator of Knight Foundation’s Random Acts of Culture™, about what’s in store. KF: Tell us a little about these upcoming celebration performances. DS: I can’t! Seriously, we want to surprise everybody. But here’s what I can say: If you’re in San Jose, Detroit, Philadelphia or Miami, be on the look out over the next six weeks for a special surprise. Each of these performances is very unique to the city where it will take place. And we’re filming, so you’ll be able to see the performances at randomactsofculture.org. What’s so great about this program is that the experience lives on through the videos. KF: Where did you come up with the ideas for the four performances? DS: We’ve been working with cultural organizations in eight cities where Knight invests to produce the Random Acts over the past two years. Since they know their communities best, we asked them for their ideas for doing a blowout spectacle to celebrate the 1,000th Random Act. Ideas from these four cultural groups – Symphony Silicon Valley, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, Sphinx in Detroit and the Opera Company of Philadelphia - rose to the top. KF: Why did Knight create this program? DS: Knight Foundation’s mission is to create informed and engaged communities, and we do that in part by weaving the arts into people’s everyday lives, seeking to make art general in communities. Seeing the tango at the airport, or opera at the farmers market strikes a deep chord in people. It reminds them of the important role that the classics and culture play in our lives. The crowd takes pictures and videos, shares them, and for just a few minutes, they are part of an exciting, collective experience that makes their community a more vibrant place to live.
