A New Model for Community Arts
The Living Opera Circles are artist-led initiatives that bring high-quality performances, educational programs, and creative projects directly to local audiences. Each Circle operates within a shared national framework designed by the Living Opera Foundation, combining artistic excellence with responsible management and community collaboration.
Our goal is simple: to empower artists to create and share their work sustainably while giving communities access to exceptional cultural experiences, often free of charge or at minimal cost.
How It Works
Each Circle is guided by the Living Opera Foundation’s framework for community-based artistic development. Local fellows take the lead in producing performances, workshops, and cultural events that reflect their communities, while the Foundation provides mentorship, administrative support, and national visibility.
The model emphasizes:
- Artist empowerment: helping performers gain hands-on experience in programming, production, and leadership.
- Community access: ensuring that audiences can experience live performance and arts education in welcoming, vibrant settings.
- Sustainability: encouraging responsible planning and collaboration so that local projects can thrive year after year.
Through this program, artists develop practical skills that strengthen both their creative practice and their communities, creating a cycle of mentorship, excellence, and opportunity.
The Pilot Circle in Portland, Oregon
The Portland Circle is the first pilot initiative within the Living Opera Circles framework. Led by Living Opera's first Fellow Gyan Singh Maria, the Circle is currently in development in collaboration with St. Michael’s Church and community partners across the region.
The pilot’s purpose is to build a locally led, artist-driven program that combines performance, education, and mentorship to serve musicians and audiences throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Our Vision
Traditional arts organizations often face high overhead costs and limited capacity. Living Opera Circles take a different approach by focusing resources where they matter most: on artists, education, and audiences.
By decentralizing production and promoting local leadership, Circles reduce waste, expand access, and foster the next generation of artist-entrepreneurs. Each Circle becomes a cultural hub that strengthens its community from within while remaining connected to a wider national and international network.
Support the Circles
Your financial support helps bring music, education, and mentorship to communities across North America and beyond. Donations to the Living Opera Foundation sustain artist-led programming, fund educational initiatives, and help new Circles launch in other regions. Together, we can make classical music accessible, relevant, and alive in every community.