Bossa Beats, LA Dreams: Rhythms of Inclusion

Access to tech and creative industry employment

Central LA East LA South LA West LA County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit) City of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a citywide benefit)

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

Los Angeles is a global creative capital—but its opportunities aren’t equally shared. Immigrants, refugees, low-income youth, and people with disabilities often lack both exposure to live arts experiences and pathways into creative careers. Their stories are underrepresented—whether as audiences, performers, or producers.
Bossa Nova – The Show responds with a culturally rooted solution: using Brazil’s genre-defining musical movement—born from innovation and fusion—to open doors. Through free and discounted tickets, cultural exchange workshops with Brazilian artists, ASL-accessible programming, and local hiring, the project provides both access to the arts as audiences and opportunities to participate in shaping them— breaking down barriers, building skills and confidence, and creating pathways into LA’s creative economy, empowering underserved communities to shape the city’s cultural future.

Bossa Nova – The Show is a theatrical and musical production that celebrates Brazil’s iconic Bossa Nova movement, set between 1950s Rio and New York. Featuring live music, immersive LED visuals, archival footage, and dramatic storytelling, the show highlights the lives and impact of artists like Tom Jobim and João Gilberto. This grant will support free and low ticket performances in Los Angeles, prioritizing immigrant families, low-income youth, and other underserved communities. At least one performance will include ASL interpretation to increase accessibility for the Deaf community.
The project features workshops and cultural exchange sessions with local youth, immigrant artists, and visiting Brazilian artists, fostering cross-cultural dialogue and skill development. We will also hire local immigrants, providing meaningful employment and mentorship.
The project complies with Article 46 of Brazil’s Cultural Incentive Law. At least 10% of cultural products will be distributed free for social or educational purposes—including public school teachers. Meia-entrada (half-price access) will be ensured for students (minimum 40% of tickets), seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income youth. Through this, Bossa Nova – The Show aims to create inclusive pathways into the creative economy, strengthen LA’s cultural diversity, and inspire a new generation of artists.

Success means increased access to the arts and creative careers for underserved communities in LA. In the short term, Bossa Nova – The Show will reach hundreds through free and discounted performances, ASL-accessible programming, and cultural workshops. Local immigrant artists will be hired. Long-term, the project will serve as a replicable model of cultural access and workforce development. We aim to build lasting partnerships with schools, cultural organizations, and immigrant groups to expand programming across LA County and beyond—empowering new voices to shape the creative future of our city while celebrating immigrant cultural heritage.