About Us

Augmenting the arts-supporting mission of the 32 Bar Blues clothing brand, the nonprofit 32 Bar Blues Foundation was established in 2020 to further promote American music, literature, photography, and the artists that create within these genres. Jazz, blues and roots music are of particular focus – all uniquely American art forms that should be nurtured and advanced for the benefit of future generations. Similarly, contemporary poetry and street photography are supported as powerful forms of creative expression deserving greater exposure and appreciation.

Toward these goals, the 32 Bar Blues Foundation seeks out and partners with nonprofit arts organizations that provide education, training, encouragement, opportunity, support and exposure. Young and emerging artists as well as established and lesser-known masters are of equal focus.

Through direct 32 Bar Blues corporate support and donations; customer donations; and all profits received from special clothing items, music, books, and other partner products in the 32 Bar Blues collection and website; seasonal contributions go directly to the artists and organizations noted in THE ARTS section of the 32 Bar Blues website.

About Us

Augmenting the arts-supporting mission of the 32 Bar Blues clothing brand, the nonprofit 32 Bar Blues Foundation was established in 2020 to further promote American music, literature, photography, and the artists that create within these genres. Jazz, blues and roots music are of particular focus – all uniquely American art forms that should be nurtured and advanced for the benefit of future generations. Similarly, contemporary poetry and street photography are supported as powerful forms of creative expression deserving greater exposure and appreciation.

Toward these goals, the 32 Bar Blues Foundation seeks out and partners with nonprofit arts organizations that provide education, training, encouragement, opportunity, support and exposure. Young and emerging artists as well as established and lesser-known masters are of equal focus.

Through direct 32 Bar Blues corporate support and donations; customer donations; and all profits received from special clothing items, music, books, and other partner products in the 32 Bar Blues collection and website; seasonal contributions go directly to the artists and organizations noted in THE ARTS section of the 32 Bar Blues website.

Background

The 32 Bar Blues clothing brand was born with a deep love and respect for the American arts, and we believe a life well-lived accrues from the discovery of unexpected beauty. To that end – and since our first collection in 2012 – we honor many of the pioneers of American music, writing and photography and we give 100% of the profits from the sales of their CDs, books and photos directly back to them as part of our commitment to the arts.

Our First Partnership

In 2020, we enlarged the scope of our arts-supporting mission by seeking nonprofit arts organizations to help. Compelled by the COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating impact on musicians as live music shut down across the world, we reached out to the nonprofit Jazz Foundation of America with an idea to create a special t-shirt to help raise awareness and crucial funds for the JFA’s COVID-19 Musicians’ Emergency Fund.

Nonprofit Formation

Our Jazz Foundation partnership helped inspire the formation of the nonprofit 32 Bar Blues Foundation, and similar partnerships and special product creations were initiated for the African Poetry Book Fund, Notes for Notes youth music organization, Vail Jazz Festival, Keeping The Blues Alive youth education program, and others.

Hearts of the Art

A new feature – “Hearts of the Art” – was created in THE ARTS section of the 32 Bar Blues website to showcase these organizations and efforts. And we introduced an option to include a donation to the 32 Bar Blues Foundation with your 32 Bar Blues purchase.

Direct Help

Since the formation of 32 Bar Blues Foundation three years ago, we’ve contributed more than $170,000 to our nonprofit partners – providing support and work opportunities to musicians in need and inspiration to the next generation of musicians and writers. And over the course of 10 years featuring 89 artists in the 32 Bar Blues collection, the gross sales of their work has totaled more than $100,000 and provided national exposure with millions of full-page impressions.

Support 32 Bar Blues Foundation

Your donation will go toward building new arts partnerships & programs and will be dispersed among the nonprofit organizations listed under Partnerships.

32 Bar Blues Foundation is a Maine nonprofit organization exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.