Other Minds is a
San Francisco based private 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization, founded in 1992 by
Charles Amirkhanian (who serves as Executive and Artistic Director) and
Jim Newman (President Emeritus). According to their mission statement: Other Minds, Inc., is dedicated to the encouragement and propagation of
contemporary music in all its forms through concerts, workshops and conferences that bring together artists and audiences of diverse traditions, generations and cultural backgrounds. By fostering cross-cultural exchange and creative dialogue and by encouraging exploration of areas in new music seldom touched upon by mainstream music institutions, Other Minds is committed to expanding and reshaping the definition of what constitutes "serious music.".
The name "Other Minds" has been attributed by
Jim Newman to an anonymous obituary that ran in the New Yorker in 1992 which stated that
John Cage "...composed music in other people's minds."
Other Minds has achieved wide recognition and acclaim including the
ASCAP award in 2009 for adventurous programming and the
American Music Center's 2005 letter of distinction for service to American composers.