For over a year, most live performances were canceled or postponed due to the pandemic. But the arts community is starting to bounce back slowly.

West Valley Arts’ “Imprint: The Cultural Sounds of America” is a six-week-long concert series showcasing diverse musical styles. These performances are live-streamed and also open to the public following safety precautions. The mission of these concerts is to educate the audience about the importance of diversity and inclusiveness in an entertaining way. 

The concerts are part of a program which started as a visual arts series celebrating people of color and their cultures. The program launched in February in celebration of Black History Month. 

Sandra Bassett is the president and CEO of West Valley Arts Council and one of the performers.

“We’re trying to make sure we have an opportunity to have dialogue; that we have an opportunity to celebrate, to indulge, to engage and to understand each other at a higher level through the arts,” Bassett said. 

This is made possible through a grant from the the recording industry’s Music Performance Trust Fund. 

The performers are all local musicians, and the concerts happen every Friday night until late April. 

Remaining performances: 

• April 2: Geibral Elisha Movement.
• April 9: The Sound Bombers.
• April 16: Bluesman Mike.
• April 23: Sandra Bassett.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been modified to correct the name of the trust fund

To listen to this interview visit: https://kjzz.org/content/1671923/west-valley-arts-hosts-weekly-concert-series