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WCNY’s “Feminine Fusion” Awarded National Endowment for the Arts Grant

by Lauren Easton

January 24, 2024

The National Endowment for the Arts announced today that it awarded WCNY’s “Feminine Fusion” a grant to support the locally produced, nationally distributed weekly radio show hosted by Central New York composer and musician Diane Jones.

Created and broadcast from WCNY’s Syracuse studios and currently enjoying its eighth season, “Feminine Fusion” highlights the role of remarkable women in classical music. An inspirational and educational program, “Feminine Fusion” aims to broaden the influence of the arts by highlighting generally underrecognized conductors, composers, and musicians.

“We are truly honored to receive the NEA’s Challenge Grant,” said Mitch Gelman, President and CEO of WCNY, Central New York’s public communications organization. “The award recognizes the commitment and passion that Diane Jones brings to her work at Classic FM and shares with listeners across the country.”

In 52 episodes each year, “Feminine Fusion” celebrates women from broad-ranging backgrounds, including Black, Latinx, and Native American artists. The show is syndicated to 23 stations in 17 states, including Austin, TX, Anchorage, AK, and San Juan, PR.

The National Endowment for the Arts’ Challenge America grant funds organizations aiming to broaden the arts’ accessibility to underserved groups and communities. Funding from the NEA will directly support essential activities for another successful year of “Feminine Fusion.” It will contribute to hands-on research, reporting, and scriptwriting for each episode, and will enable the station to expand the reach of the show and Diane Jones’ influence to a more diverse audience.

To learn more about WCNY’s “Feminine Fusion,” visit wcny.org/radio.