VIOLINS OF HOPE: In the coming weeks you’ll hear a lot about a new exhibit opening at the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage in Beachwood, called “Violins of Hope.” The exhibit describes Jewish violinists who were forced to play music at prison camps during the Holocaust of World War II, and displays the violins that were played during that time. Along with the exhibit, there will be performances by the Cleveland Orchestra and the Cleveland Institute of Music that utilize some of those wartime instruments, plus educational programs, and a documentary being produced by WVIZ/PBS ideastream. On this episode we look at how the Violins of Hope exhibit is making its way to Cleveland.
ANISFIELD WOLF BOOK AWARDS: The 2015 Anisfield Wolf Book Awards were held earlier this month at the Ohio Theater in Playhouse Square. The Awards honor writers who bring attention to issues of race and diversity. This year, the winners included Jericho Brown for his book of poetry, “The New Testament”, Marilyn Chin, for HER poetry collection “Hard Love Province”, novelist Marlon James for “A Brief History of Seven Killings, David Brion Davis, for the book “The Problem of Slavery in the Age of Emancipation” and Richard S. Dunn for “A Tail of Two Plantations.” The event was moderated by Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
GREATER CLEVELAND URBAN FILM FESTIVAL: The news out of this year’s Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival (or GCUFF) is that four days have been added, making the festival an eight-day long event that runs from September 17 th thru the 24 th at Shaker Square Cinemas. Donna Dabbs, the Executive Director of GCUFF joins us on this around of Applause.
WOMEN PLUS FILM FESTIVAL: The Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival prides itself on being a voice for African-American filmmakers. In a recent segment of Applause America, from our sister station ROCKY MOUNTAIN – PBS in Colorado, they looked at a film festival that showcases the perspectives of women as storytellers and the subjects of films.
Milton Maltz, Violins of Hope
Richard Bogomolny, Chairman of the Board, The Cleveland Orchestra
Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Donna Dabbs, Executive Director, Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival