The tour was a rousing success

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Our tour of Switzerland began Friday September 13th and ended Sunday September 22nd, 2024.

 

Our presentation included a film, musical performance and public discussion. The film provided historical background and moving testimony that provoked lively discussion in German and English. The Jubalo Singers joined in these discussions, sharing their insights and experiences with diverse audiences eager to hear them. The performance that followed brought everyone together to demonstrate how this music functioned in the struggle to end slavery, and how it can enlighten and inspire today. The audience-large or small-affirmed on every occasion that they went home with hearts full, souls enriched and above all, that they had regained hope in humanity and our future. 

This wonderful result was achieved by a combination of four distinct elements. 

 

First, the tour was conceived as a collaborative effort. 

This included: Art in History and Politics, several different event organizers, Dr. Kathy Bullock and the Jubalo Singers from Kentucky and Mat Callahan and Yvonne Moore in Bern. We were counting on a wide range of people from teachers at schools, preachers at churches, political activists, and concert organizers, all of whom had seen our film and understood the importance of bringing the message to the Swiss public. That list includes two High Schools in Bern, the Jazzcampus in Basel, two church communities in Burgdorf and Kirchberg respectively, the Political Forum in Bern, the Rosa Luxembourg Foundation in Geneva, and concert venues in Pieterlen and Köniz.

At the same time, all of us were aware that this was an unconventional effort. It did not rely on well-established channels such as the music business, the academic/lecture circuit or political organization. In fact, the tour was organized by an ad hoc assembly of individuals and institutions that grasped the musical and historical significance of this project.

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It was particularly important that everyone involved recognized that the live performance of the music would bring the presentation to another level. Hearing the songs as they might have sounded two hundred years ago, brought them to life, providing a powerful and transformative experience. This required participation of professional singers who were deeply committed to the cause and mission and were willing to perform for much less remuneration than they would normally receive. Their reward was seeing the impact that their contribution made. It was clearly evident from the responses of the event organizers and the general public that this element, including not only the singing but the personal statements of the individual singers, were vital to the tour's success.

 

Second, the tour required a considerable fund-raising effort.

From the outset it was clear that a risk was involved because there was no way the events themselves could cover the costs of the tour. Furthermore, it was uncertain what the various funders (state and private) would actually contribute. Given time factors such as the scheduling of events, promotion and the booking of flights/hotels, we had to take that risk, commit to the tour, and hope for the best. 

In spite of the fact that the state funders were not as generous as they have been in the past, we were able to cover approximately 60% of all costs with what we raised from public finance combined with what each event contributed. We are very fortunate to have one committed individual who offered to cover our deficit. Therefore, though there was no surplus, there was no loss. Hence, our work can go forward without a burdensome debt.

It is especially noteworthy that the initiative and consistency of Yvonne Moore kept the financial and logistical aspects under constant supervision. This was crucial because the smooth running of a tightly organized schedule was not a luxury, it was a necessity. We were all fortunate that a strong feeling of comeradery and teamwork was shared by all participants from beginning to end.

 

Third, the events themselves were successful as events.

In other words, the film, discussion and musical performance evoked an enthusiastic response from whomever was in attendance, be they students at a high school or members of a church community. In every case people spoke of the quality of the presentation and how much they learned. Everyone, audiences and performers alike, spoke of being inspired and uplifted by the music and the history combined with public discussion. This format proved that there is interest and willingness to participate in such events. So, part of the success of the tour was in providing a model to be emulated in the future.

 

Fourth, the tour laid the basis for our ongoing efforts.

We made an impact that enables us to plan and carry out more such programs in the months and years to come. In particular, we already have invitations to present the film and discussion in other schools in Switzerland. We have strong encouragement for tours planned in the US for June 2025 and June 2026. In short, we have established a format and a reputation that should motivate other individuals and institutions to bring this project to the public they serve.

 

This of course means a lot more work. We have to continue to raise funds. We have to continue to follow up with contacts we've made and reach out to new ones. But we know our planning and preparation pay off. We can and will make this happen!