OUR MISSION:
The Quad Cities Jazz festival, LTD/Polyrhythms, is a grass roots non-profit organization dedicated to community and cultural arts
advocacy. Every community is greatly enhanced by the opportunity to share and participate in the arts. To provide exposure to the arts, and the opportunity to build on the imagination, inner strength and cultural residues, history and
resources of the community by fostering understanding and pride through observing, learning, and performing music, dance, creative writing, storytelling and visual arts. By creating projects and events that utilize the arts as a gateway to teach cultural, technical and life skills with a focus on the youth of underserved neighborhoods and easily accessible to all members of the community. By creating an awareness of our QC heritage of gifted musicians, artisans and craftsmen, people can celebrate and be reminded, inspired and motivated to live up to the high standards and character of our ancestors. It is our
mission to educate and entertain by presenting first class local, regional and national musicians at an affordable cost. Outstanding
quality and affordable concert performances add to the quality of life of the entire community. 
 
Polyrhythms remains committed to building a jazz & heritage festival in the Quad Cities modeled after the annual culturally rich New Orleans Jazz & Heritage festival. Every community is greatly enhanced by the opportunity to share and participate in
the arts. The Quad Cities Jazz festival, LTD. wishes to sow the seeds of our unique culture for generations to come in conjunction
with the Third Sunday Jazz Workshop & Matinee Series (which recently embarked upon its own New Beginning), and the Meade
Legacy Jazz Griot Award. Our intentions remain to build and grow a festival reflective of and befitting the cultural diversity that
built and sustains the Quad Cities Area. We honor the legacy and values of our grandparents, and celebrate
the indigenous music and culture of the peoples who contributed to the growth and success of the Quad Cities with their blood, sweat and tears.
It is a given that if groups don’t define who they are, then others will label them as they see fit. All communities benefit
with the opportunity to share and learn of the culture and the arts of others. We continue to celebrate the legacy of our
ancestors.

NATE WORDS 2024 2/21/24, 11:13 AM

Our grandparents and parents contributed greatly, both physically and creatively, to the building, and the success of the Quad
Cities, and the BBJ&H Festival continues to sow the seeds of our unique culture for generations to come. Our dedication continues
to create and grow an exciting and sustainable event that audiences, locally and regionally can relate to. We are building
and growing a festival reflective of, and befitting the cultural diversity that builds and sustains the Quad-City area.
This dedication to exposing and celebrating the accomplishments of our ancestors and their contribution to the success
of this community, is who we are. And we reach out to everyone we know who shares this passion for community and
cultural arts advocacy. 
A slogan that has served us well - Participation is Education! Our dedication continues to create and grow exciting and
sustainable events that audiences, locally and regionally can
relate to. In addition to our mission of exposing and celebrating; we agree with the folks at Coastal Jazz and Blues when they say:
“We felt a massive responsibility to the artist community and to the audiences for whom I think music is probably more important
than ever,” said Rainbow Robert, managing artistic director. “We’re all, I think, thirsting for culture and thirsting
for inspiration and to listen to music that inspires a different outlook and reminds us of that which is most beautiful about this
life.”

We are inspired to build and nurture new ideas that will be reflective and befitting of the cultural diversity that builds and
sustains the Quad-City area. For when people from one culture exchange music with another culture, they gain valuable insights
into another way of life that bridges a divide in communications. Polyrhythms Third Sunday Jazz Series along with our Polyrhythms
Bill Bell Jazz & Heritage Festival continue to sow the seeds of our unique culture for generations to come.
- the words of Nate Lawrence