The University of Michigan’s Arts Initiative has announced musician, composer and scholar Rhiannon Giddens will be its inaugural U-M Artist-in-Residence.

The new program aims to bring extraordinary, innovative artists to campus in order to create, grow and impact the world while engaging the university community in the transformative power of the arts.

A native of North Carolina, Giddens is an eclectic, multi-genre folk musician, known as a founding member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops and as the co-composer of the Pulitzer Prize winning opera “Omar.”

She has helped redefine the notion of artistry, with a special focus on the contributions of Black Americans. The sounds of her banjo, for example, open Beyoncé’s 2024 hit “Texas Hold ‘Em.”

Giddens, a MacArthur Fellow and multi-Grammy Award winner, will be in residency at U-M through October 2025. She will work with university librarians, faculty and students to advance a research project exploring the contributions of the American underclasses to American music.

“I look forward to spending time at the University of Michigan next year, with their incredible archives and scholars, as I research and write my next book,” she said.

The U-M Artist-in-Residence program is part of the Arts Initiative’s broader Creators on Campus initiative, which is designed to enhance learning, arts research and community service by bringing a wide range of creatives to campus.

Established and emerging artists are supported in bringing a new project to life, while the campus gets to share in their creative process. Students, faculty and staff learn new models for creative work and in turn can apply creativity to their own research, work and learning.

This approach allows artists to employ the full scope of resources at U-M to drive collaboration, innovation and to discover novel ways of addressing today’s grand challenges.

“Rhiannon Giddens is the perfect choice as the Arts Initiative’s inaugural U-M Artist-in-Residence,” said Mark Clague, the initiative’s executive director.

“The wonder and beauty of her artistry combined with the forceful argument that her music makes about the diverse streams that contribute to our cultural soundscapes, not only of the United States but across the globe, offers a compelling case for the essential role of the arts in our lives. Hers is a powerful fusion of artistry and scholarly activism that serves as a model for our campus community and, especially, for our students.”

Key components of the residency include:

• Research and creation — Giddens will leverage U-M’s vast library and archival resources during this residency, including the Clements Library and Labadie Collection, to further her research.
• Student engagement — Through workshops, master classes and collaborative projects, U-M faculty, staff and students will have the opportunity to learn from a professional artist of Giddens’ caliber.
• Public events — The residency will jump start Nov. 8 with the Silkroad Ensemble with Rhiannon Giddens American Railroad, presented by the University Musical Society, which nominated Giddens for U-M Artist-in-Residence.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration — Giddens will work across academic disciplines, demonstrating the interconnectedness of the arts with other fields of study.

The artist-in-residence program reflects U-M’s commitment to supporting artists, enriching campus life and demonstrating the vital role of the arts in education and society. It aims to create lasting impact not only on the artist’s work but also on the university’s approach to arts education and community engagement.

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• Arts Initiative
• Creators on Campus
• U-M Artist-in-Residence