The Otis Redding Foundation is gearing up for an exciting summer with the annual Otis Music Camp, which will run from June 2nd to 21st, 2025.
This program aims to empower young artists aged 12-18 by offering valuable arts education, coinciding with a month that honors Black music contributions in June.
The Foundation continues to celebrate the musical legacy of Otis Redding, particularly highlighted by the newly installed Otis Redding Statue.
This life-size bronze sculpture, created by Bradley Cooley and Bradley Cooley Jr., is located at the intersection of Cotton Avenue and Cherry Street in downtown Macon, Georgia.
It serves not only as a tribute to Redding’s influence but also as a poignant reminder of his roots in Macon and the community’s ongoing relationship with the arts.
The statue stands proudly in front of important cultural landmarks established by the Redding family, such as the Zelma Redding Amphitheater and the Otis Redding Center for the Arts (ORCA), which houses the statue atop a newly integrated water fountain.
Previously displayed in Gateway Park since 2002, the statue’s new location symbolizes Macon’s progressive evolution and serves as a powerful contrast to the nearby relocated statue of a Confederate soldier.
Seth Clark, Mayor Pro Tempore for Macon-Bibb County, remarked on the statue’s significance, highlighting its role as a representation of the city’s history and growth.
Karla Redding-Andrews, Vice President and Executive Director of the Otis Redding Foundation, expressed pride in the statue’s relocation.
She noted that it is situated near the amphitheater named for their mother and just blocks from a property their father owned in the 1960s.
The Redding family has long been associated with the vibrant artistic community of Macon, where their parents’ legacies inspire the development of programs for future generations.
As the Foundation aims to perpetuate Otis Redding’s vision, it emphasizes the need to support and educate local youth and adults alike, ensuring that Macon continues to thrive artistically and culturally.
Founded in 2007 by Zelma Redding, the Otis Redding Foundation operates out of ORCA, which has become a hub for their signature summer programs.
The Otis Music Camp, a flagship initiative, promises to provide invaluable experiences to young aspiring musicians.
Following this camp, Camp Dream is scheduled to take place from July 14th to 25th, 2025, catering to children aged 5-11 and fostering creativity in various art forms, including music, dance, visual arts, and theater.
The ORCA facility spans 15,000 square feet, featuring the Zelma Redding Amphitheater, creative labs, classrooms, and the O3 Recording Studio, named after Otis Redding III, the singer’s son who passed away in April 2023.
In tandem with the Otis Music Camp this June, the Foundation celebrates Black Music Month with the release of one of Otis Redding’s most renowned albums, Otis Blue.
Scheduled for June 27th, this version of the classic album will be a mastered vinyl, released as part of Warner Music’s Rhino Reserve premium vinyl series.
For those interested in learning more about the Otis Redding Foundation, its programs, and ORCA, additional information can be found online at https://www.otisreddingfoundation.org/ and https://www.orcamacon.org/.
Social media updates and community engagement can also be followed on Instagram and Facebook via the handles @otisreddingfoundation and @orcamacon.
image source from：https://atlantadailyworld.com/2025/06/03/otis-redding-foundation-celebrates-ongoing-legacy-with-statue-and-new-generations-of-artists-with-annual-otis-music-camp/?utm_source=newsshowcase&utm_medium=gnews&utm_campaign=CDAqEAgAKgcICjCqr8kLMOrK4AMwhqXlAw&utm_content=rundown
