Kwanza Jones is taking her vision on the road again. After establishing herself as a multidisciplinary artist and cultural strategist, Jones is launching Culture in Motion—a traveling platform that will touch down in Boston, Philadelphia, Newark, and New York this fall, bringing a distinctive model of arts investment and community partnership to the Northeast.
The initiative marks a shift in how major cultural funding operates. Rather than traditional grants distributed from institutions, Culture in Motion pairs The Apollo Theater's institutional reach with Jones's SUPERCHARGED ecosystem—a creative studio known for blending music, media, and what Jones calls "transformational experiences." The result is something less like a typical arts festival and more like an extended collaboration between cultural institutions, local artists, and community organizations.
"Philanthropy should do more than fund a moment," Jones said. "It should help build what makes lasting impact possible." That philosophy underpins the Impact Multiplier model, a framework developed through the Jones•Feliciano Initiative—a grantmaking organization co-founded by Jones and José E. Feliciano.
The Initiative aims to move beyond single-event sponsorships toward sustained ecosystem-building. What distinguishes this model from conventional philanthropy is its emphasis on what Jones calls "strategic guidance, creative support, operational expertise, and access to a powerful ecosystem of knowledge and networks." Local artists and cultural organizations aren't simply receiving funding. They're invited into a collaborative process where they help shape programming, determine artistic direction, and access resources that extend beyond the monetary.
The Apollo, the nation's largest performing arts institution dedicated to Black culture and creativity, has been a fixture since 1934. By serving as the "inaugural Producing Partner" for Culture in Motion, The Apollo extends its Harlem roots outward while maintaining its commitment to community-centered cultural work.
Jones brings her own distinctive energy to the partnership. SUPERCHARGED has built a reputation for high-voltage productions that blend music, media innovation, and community engagement. Her signature approach—what she calls "energy + intention + impact"—has attracted attention from artists, entrepreneurs, and cultural leaders seeking alternatives to traditional institutional frameworks.
The roadshow will feature what the organizations describe as "empowerment experiences" and creative programming designed specifically for each stop. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, participants in each city will shape experiences reflective of that city's particular creative identity.
For artists and cultural organizations in these cities, the stakes of this partnership are significant. The Northeast's cultural sector has faced persistent pressures: venue closures, rising real estate costs, and funding competitions that often favor established institutions over emerging or independent practitioners. An initiative explicitly aimed at strengthening cultural infrastructure addresses genuine structural needs.
For more information about participation opportunities, visit boostbus.com.
