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Sept. 14, 2022 | Vol. 19, No. 7 |
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Susana Arenas of Dance Brigade. Photo: Brooke Anderson. |
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Communities of Change:
Traditional Arts as Enduring Social Practice
in California’s Bay Area
A new publication of the Alliance for California Traditional Arts,
commissioned by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
ACTA’s newest publication, Communities of Change: Traditional Arts as Enduring Social Practice in California’s Bay Area, was commissioned by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation to examine the traditional arts landscape of the greater Bay Area. What began as an internal report to inform and guide the planning and design of the Hewlett 50 Arts Commissions for Folk and Traditional Arts, can be found here in an expanded version. It is intended for those seeking to learn more about this rich field. We invite funders, cultural workers, arts administrators, policymakers, curators, traditional artists, and activists who engage with a diversity of peoples, aesthetics, languages, and locations to look at the content with their own communities in mind.
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2007 Apprenticeship mentor artist Leanne Mounvongkham and apprentice Kami Thephavong in Northern Lao Weaving and Foodways, Fresno. Photo: Sherwood Chen/ACTA. |
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Introducing the
California Traditional Artists Plaza
A new, free resource for artists and the public
to Learn, Hire, and Engage.
ACTA's California Traditional Artists Plaza facilitates engagement with artists by foregrounding work-for-hire opportunities that will positively impact the livelihoods of traditional artists. During the Covid-19 pandemic, ACTA saw a need to build out a new tool to increase opportunities not just for sharing information, but for hiring traditional artists for both remote and in-person engagements, recognizing their work as critical to the economic recovery of the California arts sector.
The California Traditional Artists Plaza creates a new, centralized space for traditional artists to advertise their work and create new connections online.
Submit a profile today, or browse the artists' dynamic offerings, from remote lessons, to consultations, to handmade visual arts and crafts.
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Apply Now: Web + Editorial Consultant
for the San Joaquin Valley Culture Community Circle
A $5,000 contract position for a media-minded person who loves the San Joaquin Valley. 💛
For too long, the San Joaquin Valley has been seen as on the periphery, in contrast to its valuable contribution to the California arts and culture landscape. That oversight has resulted in substandard funding and resources to San Joaquin Valley culture bearers and cultural communities.
The San Joaquin Valley Culture Community Circle (SJVCCC) was born to serve as a self-empowering forum for arts and culture practitioners and organizations in San Joaquin Valley.
Our SJVCCC microsite project aims to use technology to enable SJ Valley creatives to connect with each other, share challenges, journeys, and figure out common solutions. Find out more about this unique opportunity and review full contract announcement at the link below.
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Chike C. Nwoffiah by Janet Tavares. |
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ACTA Welcomes New Board President, Chike C. Nwoffiah
The ACTA board and staff are pleased to welcome Chike C. Nwoffiah as our new Board President.
Chike C. Nwoffiah is an educator, arts administrator and advocate, and a founding board member of the Alliance for California Traditional Arts. After twelve successful years as a corporate strategist for a Silicon Valley bio-tech company, Chike Nwoffiah transitioned into the nonprofit creative sector and quickly became a respected regional voice in arts and culture advocacy for marginalized communities. He is the founding director of Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF), an annual festival, now in its 13th year, that presents over 100 films by Africa’s seasoned and emerging filmmakers from about 40 countries. This year, the San José Arts Commission and the Office of Cultural Affairs named Chike the recipient for the 2022 Cornerstone of the Arts Award. The award pays tribute to those who have provided effective leadership over time, leading to the betterment of San José's arts community and the quality of life for its citizens.
Chike says about the work of ACTA: “The Alliance for California Traditional Arts is anchored on the fact that our today cannot exist without a yesterday that is rooted in culture and tradition. It continues to be joyful to be part of an organization that is focused on creating a fertile ground for California’s rich and diverse cultures to be activated and celebrated.”
We thank Dan Sheehy, Senior Advisor to the Smithsonian Under Secretary for Museums and Culture, Director & Curator Emeritus for Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, for his extraordinary leadership and service to ACTA and the larger folk and traditional arts community, as ACTA's previous Board President. Dan remains a valued member of our board of directors as a founding member.
Click through to hear more from Chike, and read his full bio!
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Featured Opportunities__________________ |
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The Fund will make grants directly to artists, teaching artists, culture bearers and nonprofit arts workers. Grants will be distributed to reflect the diversity of the East Bay—Alameda and Contra Costa Counties—including those who are of historically underserved communities and who are financially vulnerable due to the economic impacts of COVID-19.
Applications Accepted September 7–28, 2022.
Individuals can apply for up to $2,000.
Grants can be made to individuals, non-profits, community partnerships, or Tribal Nations. They are made to projects that reflect the transmission of knowledge across generations, based in California Indian culture, art, values, and traditional practices.
NCF grant funding is between $1,000 and $10,000, with most grants falling between $1,000 - $5,000.
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ACTA promotes and supports ways for cultural traditions to thrive now and into the future by providing advocacy, resources, and connections for folk and traditional artists and their communities. |
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