After 28 years Concert of Colors Continues in a New and Expansive Format

The Detroit Institute of Arts and Detroit Public Television partners with Detroit’s international music festival to reach more audiences

DETROIT, MI, June 5, 2020 – In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 28th Annual Concert of Colors and partner institutions announce a plan to transform the Detroit Film Theatre at the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) into a sound stage, filming live performances by headline artists and then broadcast the festival on Detroit Public TV (56.1)  and WDET in October of 2020.

Concert of Colors will air in primetime on Detroit Public TV two hours a night for four consecutive nights, as well as being simulcast on Detroit Public Radio (WDET)  radio and streamed online worldwide. The full lineup and dates will be announced soon and will include the Don Was All Sta- Revue with a tribute to Detroit music icon Ed Love.

“Concert of Colors audience will grow by the millions this year,” said festival Executive Director and founder Ismael Ahmed. “This year, we will all be grooving together to music performed by some of the greatest artists in the world – but we will be doing it safely in our own homes. The commitment and generosity by our partners and sponsors to make this broadcast happen are a gift to Detroit, Southeast Michigan, and the world. The free diversity festival has been a tradition for nearly three decades in Detroit.”

“While we wish we could gather together in person to celebrate unity and diversity through music, the DIA is proud to play a role in continuing the important tradition of Concert of Colors by serving as the host venue for this year’s broadcast,” said Salvador Salort-Pons, DIA Director. “We look forward to bringing the event to an even larger audience in our region and welcoming them back to the event at the DIA next year.”

“Music is the heartbeat and soul of Detroit and we were determined, with our partners and sponsors, to not only allow the show to go on, but to find new and innovative ways to continue to offer this musical extravaganza free for guests – and now expand it for the world to enjoy,” said Charles Ezra Ferrell, Vice-President for Public Programs & Community Engagement, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.

Broadcast:

10 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 7  

9 p.m., Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Oct. 8, 9 & 10

The announcement was made by Concert of Colors, along with its partners CultureSource, the Detroit Institute of Arts, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, ACCESS/Arab American National Museum, Michigan Science Center, University of Michigan-Dearborn, University of Michigan Detroit Center, Detroit Historical Museum, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Midtown Inc., Marx Layne & Co., Detroit Public Television, WDET 101.9 FM, Scarab Club, Detroit Science Gallery, Hellenic Museum of Michigan and College for Creative Studies.

Generous sponsors include Knight Foundation, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, DTE Energy,  Zingerman’s Deli, Mark Bernstein and Rachel Bendit Bernstein.

Concert of Colors is also partnering with world music festivals across the globe to broadcast the Detroit event to broad audiences worldwide.

For more information visit www.concertofcolors.com, Facebook.com/concertofcolors, Instagram: @concertofcolors

Media inquiries: Lana Mini/Marx Layne & Company

248.855.6777 (c) 586.242.9425 lmini@marxlayne.com

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