Free Jazz

Question Corner November 2012

by Tim Athan

posted 11/20/2012

Q. For about two-and-a-half years, the U-M Museum of Art has been presenting free live jazz concerts once a month, but at September's performance it was announced that the concerts will end in October. They didn't say why. The concerts are free, because they are supported by a grant from the Doris Sloan Memorial Fund.

A. When the UMMA opened its new building three years ago, it also expanded its hours. The museum initially stayed open until midnight, with the expectation that students would use it in late evenings. This didn't happen nearly as much as expected, so the closing time was moved back to 10 p.m., and then, in September, to 8 p.m.

The jazz series was a big success, but the concerts were scheduled at 8 p.m. Because holding events after hours costs extra, UMMA staff decided to take a hiatus to plan a revised approach to event programming. The soonest the jazz series, or something like it, could return would be next fall.

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