PBS For The Arts

Public artist Ed Massey sees the landscape of Los Angeles as a canvas for his bright, vibrant designs. The nonprofit, Portraits of Hope, engages local communities through creative therapy programs and civic projects to beautify the city. Participants paint Massey's iconic canvases as seen all over LA, from its beaches to MacArthur Park.

Public art has a long history on the streets of Miami. Chire "VantaBlack" Regans uses her art as a tool to advocate for social justice causes. The large-scale mural, "Say Their Names," memorializes the victims of gun violence in Miami and its impact on the community.

Artist Emanuel Martínez brought the muralist movement to Denver in the 1970s. Today, his and other large-scale works of street art by Chicano artists are among the country's most endangered historic places. The Chicano/a/x Murals of Colorado Project is a grassroots organization calling for the protection and preservation of this vital part of the state's history.

A neon billboard in Philadelphia is lighting the way for Kensington neighborhood residents. Kensington Healing Verse is led by Philadelphia poet laureate Trapeta B. Mayson. The project raises the voices of community members through poetry and creates meaningful public art experiences throughout the city.

New large-scale projects by DRIFT at The Shed, Camille Norment at Dia Chelsea, and Carrie Mae Weems at the Park Avenue Armory use multidisciplinary technologies to explore social issues through an immersive art experience. These installations invite visitors to lie on the ground, listen to strange new sounds, and walk among sculptures and video projections, challenging the way we enjoy art today.

Opera star Anthony Roth Costanzo takes us through a day in the life of a countertenor as he prepares for an evening performance at the Met. The Grammy-winning vocalist, starring in Philip Glass’s breathtaking “Akhnaten,” explains the history of high voice male singing and what it takes to shake up the opera house.

The musical Dreaming Zenzile celebrates the legendary South African singer and activist Miriam Makeba. Written by and starring international jazz vocalist Somi Kakoma, the show is set during Makeba's last performance as she reflects on her life. Somi explains why she created the show, which features some of Makeba's best-known songs, and talks about Makeba as an inspiration for her own career.

The intertribal dance troupe, Indigenous Enterprise, showcases traditional dance with dazzling regalia and a contemporary flair to audiences around the world. The group presents a range of powwow styles – from fancy dance to jingle dress dance – bringing in audiences and bridging cultures.

A new generation of Black and Latinx musicians are paving their way in the classical music world with help from the Sphinx Organization. The Detroit-based non-profit fosters diversity in the arts by supporting emerging musicians early in their careers. Melissa White, Jannina Norpoth and Thomas Mesa share their experiences with Sphinx and how they're paying it forward to young musicians today.

With angels, marzipans and the Sugar Plum Fairy, "George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker" is a ballet tradition for all generations. The holiday classic has been embraced by the dancers who grow up performing it, as well as audiences across America. The New York City Ballet, Miami City Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet share their excitement in putting on the vibrant production this season.

In the summer of 2021, the residents of Detroit gathered to memorialize loved ones lost over the past year by crafting a wall of over 2,000 handmade pouches. Artist Sonya Clark introduced her Beaded Prayers Project, now on display at the TCF Center. The colorful, large-scale installation features a patchwork of fabric and beads each with its own dedication.

The curtain goes up on Broadway and the roar of the audience returns to New York theaters. After a year of waiting in the wings, everyone who works on the Broadway stage and behind the scenes is excited and grateful for the comeback of live theater. Artists from "Beetlejuice," "Wicked," "Come From Away" and "Aladdin" share about what Broadway's reopening means to them.