Purple Playground envisions a world where Prince’s legacy of positivity and giving continues in perpetuity.
We formed our 501(c)3 nonprofit fan-based group to honor Prince’s legacy and inspire as he did - with funds from our events used to create our FREE Academy of Prince music program for teens.
MUSIC VIDEO "Purple Playground"
We raise our funds through donations, free and low cost events, and fan created merchandise. Sponsorship opportunities welcome.
Purple Playground envisions a world where Prince’s legacy of positivity and giving continues in perpetuity.
We formed our 501(c)3 nonprofit fan-based group to honor Prince’s legacy and inspire as he did - with funds from our events used to create our FREE Academy of Prince music programs for teens.
MUSIC VIDEO "Purple Playground"
We raise our funds through donations, free and low cost events, grants, and fan created merchandise. Sponsorship opportunities welcome.
"I finally saw the switch flip for my daughter today – the one where she feels confident in who she is and what she is doing. She was so animated and excited on the way home. The love and support from all the adults at camp have had such an impact on her. Thank you for all of your hard work to make this happen. Daily tears from the mama watching all of this unfold."
Academy of Prince mom
ACADEMY OF PRINCE
Finding the Funk
VIDEO: The Purple Playground Experience
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MUSIC VIDEO: Purple Playground (Wheel of Funk)
Purple Playground’s annual Academy of Prince summer music program takes place the first two weeks of August at Urban Ventures in Minneapolis and High School for Recording Arts in St. Paul. Musical teens from the Twin Cities and around the country learn Prince history and write and record their own Prince inspired songs, with help from teachers, guest speakers and musicians who worked with him.
Guest speakers have included:
Mark Bonde, longtime Prince fan and motivational speaker and host of Paisley Nights podcast
Andrea Swennson, Prince historian, host of the Local Show on 89.3 the Current, and author of “Got To Be Something Here: The Rise of the Minneapolis Sound.”
PaviElle French, actor, neo-soul singer and composer
Bobby Z Rivkin, Revolution band member, music producer
“Dr” Matt Fink, Revolution band member, founder and director of artist relations at Mymymusic.com
Jon Bream, author and Minneapolis Star Tribune music writer since 1974
Jellybean Johnson, guitarist, producer and The Time drummer
Jim Walsh - author of Gold Experience, musician and people appreciator
Terry Jackson - percussionist from Prince's first band, Grand Central
Head Educator: Willie Adams
Director: Heidi Vader
Hear more about Academy of Prince on these Podcasts:
PURPLE PLAYGROUND
Working Towards a Brighter Future
A space to free urself and live Prince's legacy of love4one another and positivity. Raising funds for kids' music education to keep it funky.
PRESS
"Academy of Prince, High School for Recording Arts. Put together by the nonprofit Purple Playground, this inaugural weeklong program taught middle-schoolers about Prince, the Minneapolis Sound and songwriting. The students wrote and recorded original songs, with help in the studio from Purple pros Bobby Z, Matt Fink and Jellybean Johnson. The songs were quite impressive. Can’t wait for the downloads."
Jon Bream, Minneapolis Star Tribune
writings about Purple Playground
FINDERS OF THE FUNK
NOTE: We are created for fams, by fams, and “the Estate of Prince Rogers Nelson is not affiliated, associated, or connected with Purple Playground, nor has it endorsed or sponsored Purple Playground. Further, the Estate of Prince Rogers Nelson has not licensed any of its intellectual property to Purple Playground.”