The Mellon Foundation today announced a multifaceted $35 million initiative aimed at supporting the cultural preservation of jazz, championing the legacy of the artists who have played a pivotal role in its formation, and strengthening the broader jazz ecosystem.

The initiative, which will provide support for scholarly and storytelling initiatives, and partnerships with the archives, clubs, and other institutions critical to preserving and amplifying jazz’s impact on future generations, is anchored by the ‘Jazz Legacies Fellowship’—a newly created $15 million fellowship founded in partnership with the Jazz Foundation of America (JFA).