Bluegrass Pride: 2020 Annual Report

Bluegrass Pride’s first-ever annual report was published in February 2021, and was written in collaboration with Justin Hiltner (Chair, Board of Directors) and with financial input from Matt Lauer (Treasurer, Board of Directors).

A Note from the Executive Director

At this time last year, our plans for Bluegrass Pride were pretty similar to previous years: we were hoping to host more shows than in 2019 and make sure our artists were paid a little bit more. We were looking into trying to launch some new in-person programs in Portland and Nashville — maybe a beginner-friendly jam here, maybe a few hosted shows there. And, of course, we were talking about what our float in SF Pride was going to look like as we marched down Market Street for our triumphant fourth year in the parade.

Things turned out a little differently. In fact, things turned out better than I ever could have imagined.

In the crucible of 2020 and all the hell it put the world through, the one thing I am most proud of is how it helped this organization to hone its vision and activate to create a better, more equitable world for roots music. We saw the great challenges that faced our community: the devastation of the music industry, the isolation of our community, the disproportionate impact that it was having on the people already most excluded from both: LGBTQ+ folks; Black, Brown, Indigenous, and Asian people; women; people with disabilities; and more. And we organized to do something about it.

This report tells that story. It is a chance for us to share with you what we are most proud of, but it is also a place where you can hold us accountable. Our work is not perfect. We are learning as we go. We invite you to take a stake in this moment and help us live up to your expectations for us just as much as we strive to live up to our own.

Our work is not done. As you can see in this report, we have big dreams for our fifth year of operations. We hope that you are as excited about them as we are.