Julia Ward serves as the LA Phil’s Humanities Director. Part of the Artistic Planning arm of the organization, the Humanities Initiative seeks to contextualize the LA Phil’s concert programming in thought-provoking ways, delve deeply into subjects that matter in contemporary society, and provide new points of entry into the orchestral art form. Humanities activities range widely, from commissioned installations and salons to print publications and podcasts, and are typically organized into theme-driven festivals. Prior to joining the LA Phil, Julia worked in programming roles at Arts Presenters, Washington Performing Arts, the Kennedy Center, and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage and as a writer and teacher with the Future of Music Coalition, Dance/USA, and George Washington University among others.