Where Art Meets Civic Joy: Music for the People After 90 Years

By Ennis Carter
Director, Social Impact Studios
Curator & Author, Posters for the People: Art of the WPA

On Saturday, October 18, 2025, I had the honor to be in Morristown, New Jersey for an afternoon that brought history to life in the most vivid and joyful ways. Music for the People—a collaboration between Social Impact Studios and The Discovery Orchestra—was created to honor the 90th anniversary of the Federal Music Project (FMP) of the New Deal. But more than that, it was an opportunity to reconnect with the idea that art and music, when supported as public goods, can knit communities together.

As Curator and Author of Posters for the People: Art of the WPA, and as director of Social Impact Studios, I had the pleasure of helping build the storytelling and visual heart of this event. Our team curated, transported, and installed a special exhibit of WPA posters that tell the story of how the federal government elevated music to support everyday people during a time of economic crisis and cultural transformation. Seeing visitors walk through the exhibit, pause, ask questions, and make connections reminded me why documenting and sharing these works still matters nearly a century later.

Day of Music, Storytelling and Shared Discovery

The event unfolded in three parts, each reflecting a different facet of the Federal Music Project’s legacy.

A Fireside Chat on the WPA

I had the privilege of opening with a conversation about the WPA, the Federal Music Project, and the role of posters as both artistic expression and civic strategy. I explored how a 1930s public program commissioned more than 7,000 musical compositions, hired thousands of musicians and music-educators, created 34 new orchestras, and elevated music to connect communities to learning, creativity, and each other.

The questions from the audience were thoughtful and heartfelt. Many people were discovering for the first time how expansive and inclusive the FMP truly was — and how the arts once stood firmly as public infrastructure.

Learn the history of the Federal Music Project here: History Brief: the Federal Music Project

Piedmont Blūz and the Roots of American Music

Next came a spirited performance by the Piedmont Blūz Acoustic Duo, Valerie and Benedict Turner. The duo are ambassadors of Country Blues music, the Piedmont style of fingerpicking, and roots percussion. Their mission is to help bring awareness to these unique aspects of African-American culture and the contributions of early blues artists through performing and teaching.

Their blend of guitar, banjo, harmonica, and storytelling connected beautifully to the cultural aims of the FMP — preserving traditions, celebrating working-class creativity, and centering the everyday musician. 

Copland’s Quiet City & An Invitation to Listen

The Discovery Orchestra’s Maestro George Marriner Maull then led the audience through an interactive exploration of Aaron Copland’s Quiet City, guiding people to slow down, listen closely, and savor the emotional architecture of the piece.

Quiet City, itself, is a piece that was commissioned by the Federal Music Project — originally as incidental music for the play by the same title by Irwin Shaw, later to become an orchestral piece in its own right.

I’ve worked alongside the Discovery Orchestra for many years — at least a decade — and it is such a treat to watch Maestro Maull lead a “discovery” in person. His storytelling, high-level expertise, and personal passion make for a personal experience with music listening like no other.

As Quiet City filled the room — brought to life by an interactive presentation and live playing by Tyler Selvig on the English horn and oboe — you could almost imagine the Federal Music Project at work, inviting people into a public concert, helping them experience beauty during a difficult time. In a world full of distraction, this felt uniquely human.

Hands-On Artmaking: Continuing the Tradition

In true WPA fashion, we made sure the day wasn’t only about witnessing culture — it was about making it.

Our friends at Frontline Arts — who create inclusive arts experiences in papermaking and printmaking for all ages, and families — led the hands-on poster-printing activity. Their team brought screens, ink, and that magical energy that happens when people are invited to create with their own hands.

Participants had a chance to create their own copy of a poster that promoted music and books, directly experiencing the screenprinting process that WPA Poster Division artists developed and perfected during the New Deal long before it became a method for artmaking by future American graphic artists. Andy Warhol, Corita Kent, and Shepard Fairey all have Anthony Velonis to thank. Velonis was the director of the NY Poster Division and pioneer in what he coined “serigraph” screenprinting.

A Beautiful Setting for a Beautiful Day

We owe deep gratitude to The Kellogg Club for hosting us in the magnificent Kellogg Mansion. From the architecture to the ambience to the thoughtful generosity with food and drink, the venue made the day feel intimate and celebratory.

History has a way of settling into old walls — and in this case, those walls helped us imagine the WPA spirit as something alive and relevant, not dusty or distant.

Gratitude and What’s Next

I am deeply grateful to The Discovery Orchestra, to the musicians, the participants, and everyone who spent their Saturday with us. A special thank you goes out to volunteers who helped us set everything up and make the day beautiful: Ylvia Asal, Phil Carter, Mark Curley, and Richard Smock.

Thank you for stepping into history with openness, curiosity, and enthusiasm.

We look forward to more opportunities to bring the WPA story to life — through exhibitions, performances, hands-on experiences, and partnerships that echo the communal spirit of the era.

If you attended, I’d love to hear your reflections or see your photos (email to: info@discoveryorchestra.org). And if you missed it, stay tuned: we’re already dreaming up the next way to bring “art for the people” into the present.