A One-Year Budget Solution, A Multi-Generation Loss
Nebraska is considering removing $15 million from its Cultural Endowment — a long-term public trust built over decades — to cover just 0.27% of one year’s state budget. This post explains what’s at stake, why endowments exist, and how a short-term budget decision could quietly reshape access to arts, education, and cultural life across generations.
Crossroads Receives Artistic Innovations Grant
Nebraska Crossroads Music Festival has received an Artistic Innovations Grant from the Mid-America Arts Alliance to support the Dream Warriors Experience, a multimedia Indigenous arts project.
Welcome to the 2025 Festival!
Artistic Director Erik Higgins and Guest Curator Kinan Azmeh welcome you to the 2025 Nebraska Crossroads Music Festival!
Interview with Guest Curator Kinan Azmeh
In this heartfelt conversation, guest curator Kinan Azmeh shares how friendship, cultural connection, and musical curiosity shape the 2025 Crossroads Festival.
The NEA Just Terminated Our Funding: A Personal Reflection on Censorship, Art, and Resilience
When our NEA grant was abruptly terminated, we were stunned—not just by the loss of funding, but by the language used to justify it. In this personal reflection, Executive Director Olga Smola draws on her Soviet upbringing to examine the chilling echoes of censorship, the importance of artistic freedom, and what’s at stake when politics invades the arts. Read how Nebraska Crossroads is responding—with resilience, music, and an unshakable belief in the power of creative expression.
2025 Season Announcement!
The 2025 Nebraska Crossroads Music Festival is here! From Arabic jazz to Nordic-folk, slam poetry to immersive soundscapes, this summer’s free, statewide festival features groundbreaking performances and a brand-new festival orchestra. Curated by Kinan Azmeh and rooted in community, creativity, and cultural exchange—explore what’s in store across Lincoln and Omaha.
Hal France Joins Festival Team as Production Director
Acclaimed conductor and arts administrator Hal France joins the Nebraska Crossroads Music Festival as Production Director. Known for his leadership with the Orlando Philharmonic and Omaha Opera, Hal brings a wealth of experience to shape the festival’s future and strengthen community partnerships across Nebraska.
Trump’s Federal Grant Freeze: Why This Arts Organization Cultivated Diversity Before DEI, and Why It Will Continue To Do So in the Future
This year started on a high note for Nebraska Crossroads Music Festival—we were awarded our first-ever NEA Project Grant to support our 2025 festival. But with the Trump Administration’s new Executive Order freezing federal grants, the future of this funding is uncertain.
Celebrating Omaha and Lincoln: Top 20 Most Livable Cities in the U.S.
Lincoln and Omaha were recently ranked among the top 20 most livable cities in the U.S., and it’s no surprise to those of us who’ve experienced their vibrant culture, welcoming communities, and rich diversity. Learn how the Nebraska Crossroads Music Festival celebrates these cities’ unique spirit through world-class performances and unforgettable experiences.
Nebraska Crossroads Music Festival Awarded NEA Grant for 2025 Season with Guest Curator Kinan Azmeh.
From a bold idea to a nationally recognized festival: Nebraska Crossroads just earned a $40,000 NEA grant and is curating a world-class 2025 season with Kinan Azmeh. Discover what’s next.
Another Crossroads Project goes Global – Performance in Finland Highlights Festival’s Growing International Presence
Nebraska Crossroads Music Festival project has European Debut at the 54th Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival in Finland.
World Premiere comes to NE
Kinan Azmeh and Layale Chaker’s new work was also co-commissioned by the New York Philharmonic