Professor Darrell Grant (PSU) shares the driving force behind the Artist as Citizen Initiative, born in 2016 from a revolutionary idea: to train artists not just in their craft, but in their power to effect real societal change. This initiative fundamentally intertwines the development of mastery with a sense of artistic agency. In this talk, Grant will share examples of empowering students to become more than musicians through curriculum, outreach, and community building as well as his own experiences as a creative leader and advocate for Portland’s Black community in confronting injustice, bridging cultural differences, and actively shaping a better world. This talk is co-presented by Black Cultural Initiative and Lane Arts Council.

Grant will return to Eugene on May 22, 2025 to perform "Wynton Marsalis’ Swing Symphony," along with the Pacific Northwest All-Stars and the Eugene Symphony. Learn more. 

About Darrell Grant
Darrell Grant is a pianist, composer, and Portland State University Professor using music as a catalyst for change. He co-created the influential Artist as Citizen Initiative, which directly inspired PSU's 2024 Social Justice and the Arts degree. Recognized with awards including Portland Jazz Hero, a NW Regional Emmy, MAP Fund grant, and the Governor’s Arts Award, Grant holds degrees from Eastman (B.M.) and U. Miami (M.M.).

This artist residency is supported by the Nils and Jewel Hult Endowment Arts Foundation of Western Oregon Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.