NEA National Heritage Fellowships Concert Tonight: CA Artists Honored

Clockwise from top left: Marion Coleman, Eddie Bond, Don Roy, Kelly Church, Cindy Roy, Ethel Raim, Feryal Abbasi-Ghnaim, Ofelia Esparza, Manuel Cuevas, and Barbara Lynn. Photo by Julián Carrillo.

TONIGHT: NEA National Heritage Fellows Concert

This week, the National Endowment for the Arts is recognizing ten artists from around the U.S. with the National Heritage Fellowship, the most prestigious national award for folk and traditional artists. ACTA is proud to see two Californian artists honored this year: African American quilter Marion Coleman, and Chicana altarista Ofelia Esparza. Both artists have been part of ACTA's programs for many years, and we are thrilled to see them recognized on a national scale. Learn more about Ofelia and Marion's work with ACTA here.

On Wednesday the Fellows took part in an awards ceremony at the Library of Congress with NEA Acting Chairman Mary Anne Carter, members of Congress, and members of the public. "Witnessing firsthand the impact that this award has on the artists and their families, here in Washington, is such a powerful experience," said ACTA Executive Director, Amy Kitchener, who was present at the awards along with ACTA Board President Dan Sheehy.

Left to right: ACTA Board President Dan Sheehy, National Heritage Fellows Marion Coleman and Ofelia Esparza, and ACTA Executive Director Amy Kitchener at the NEA National Heritage Fellowships Award Ceremony at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. Photo by Julián Carrillo.

"The power of the NEA National Heritage Fellowship is that it not only recognizes an individual artist's achievements, but also the expressive culture of an artist's entire community," said Kitchener. "There is a beautiful ripple effect of the award by making so many people feel honored and valued in their cultural contributions. This award helps to sustain these cultural 'ways of knowing' who we are as Californians, and as Americans."

The Fellows will reconvene tonight for the NEA National Heritage Fellows Concert at Sidney Harman Hall in Washington D.C. Hosted by East L.A. musician and ACTA friend Martha Gonzalez of the Grammy Award-winning band Quetzal , the concert will feature music, demonstrations, and conversations with the 2018 Fellows and other special guests. You can watch the full concert LIVE TONIGHT at 5 PM (PST) on the NEA website. Use the hashtag #NEAHeritage18 to join the celebration on social media! If you miss the livestream, you can still watch a recording of the concert anytime.

ACTA in the Field: Apprenticeships 2018

We're in the thick of fieldwork this time of year, visiting master artists and their students up and down California as part of ACTA's Apprenticeship Program. It's a time for us to sit down with artists in their own space, to observe the transmission of the art from master to apprentice, and to engage in deep conversation with both artists that reflects on how their practice has shaped their life. From classical Indian Kathak dancers up in the Bay Area down to requinto romántico musicians in East Los Angeles, we've been learning so much from the people who shape California's artistic heritage every day. Follow ACTA's social channels (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) to see photos and videos from these visits, and much more!

Photos (left to right): Apprentice Sreoshi Sarkar in Menlo Park, Apprentice Jesse Stremski-Andrews with Master Artist Rumen Shopov in Berkeley, Apprentice Nikka Maynard in Oakland.

Arts Program Specialist Job, California Arts Council: Are you passionate about the arts? Do you want to find meaning and purpose in your work? Do you want to have a direct impact within our state's diverse communities by helping organizations that offer arts programming receive state funding? In this exciting role, the Arts Program Specialist is responsible for the administration of the CAC grant programs and helping organizations navigate the grant process. If you want to preserve, protect, and promote California's unique culture, apply to the Arts Program Specialist position today. DEADLINE: 10/05/18

Native Cultures Fund: The Humboldt Area Foundation is offering grants between $1,000 and $10,000 for projects that sustain Californian Indian culture. The Native Cultures Fund serves the area from the Tolowa Dee-Ni' nation in the north, to the Paiute Nations to the east and down to Chumash territory in the south. DEADLINE: 10/15/18

Long Beach Arts Registry: Through this ongoing project, the Arts Council for Long Beach aims to connect the diverse range of Long Beach artists with their community, and help the community connect with the artists who make the city a more vibrant and expressive place to live. The registry is also open to arts-based groups based in Long Beach, and there are several categories including folk and traditional art. Join the registry or look for an artist here.

The Alliance for California Traditional Arts is the California Arts Council's official partner in serving the state's folk and traditional arts field.