10/09/2026
GRIOT Circle is excited to announce Broadway Inspirational Voices
as the recipient of The Cultural Visionary Award!
The Cultural Visionary Award honors those who use creativity and culture to inspire, bring people together, and strengthen community and we are thrilled to present this honor to Broadway Inspirational Voices (BIV). For more than 30 years, this extraordinary community of Broadway artists has brought the power of music beyond the stage, using their voices in service to communities throughout New York City and beyond.
We are also very excited that Broadway Inspirational Voices will perform at GRIOT Circle’s 30th Anniversary Celebration!
Join us and our other honorees at GRIOT Circle’s 30th Anniversary Celebration on November 2 in Brooklyn. Also experience the incredible voices of BIV live. Learn more here- https://griotcircle.org/30th-anniversary/
BIO
Broadway Inspirational Voices is a diverse community of Broadway artists united by a belief in the power of music and service to change lives.
BIV’s story began in 1994, when more than 32,000 people in the United States died from AIDS or AIDS-related complications. The Broadway community was experiencing tremendous loss, including the deaths of many artists. In response, Tony and Grammy-nominated Broadway artist Michael McElroy envisioned a community where professional artists could come together and volunteer their gifts to provide comfort, joy, and the promise of a better day.
That vision grew into Broadway Inspirational Voices. Since its founding, BIV’s diverse membership has represented more than 140 Broadway shows, bringing together performers committed to using their artistry in service to others. In 2009, BIV became a nonprofit organization and expanded its work through community outreach and arts and education programs.
Its impact has been recognized throughout the Broadway community. In 2019, BIV received the Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre, recognizing its outstanding contributions to the Broadway industry. In 2020, composer and singer Allen René Louis became BIV’s Artistic Director, continuing the organization’s legacy of artistic excellence and community service.
Today, BIV works in partnership with organizations and institutions including Ronald McDonald House New York, Covenant House International, LaGuardia High School and GRIOT Circle.
For GRIOT, that partnership makes this recognition especially meaningful. Broadway Inspirational Voices understands that culture can do more than entertain. It creates connection, brings people together across generations, and uses the arts in service to our community.
As GRIOT Circle celebrates 30 years of building community for LGBTQ+ elders of color, we are proud to honor Broadway Inspirational Voices with the Cultural Visionary Award—and thrilled to have them perform as part of this special celebration.
