Amy’s career began with an M.A. in Folklore and Mythology from UCLA in 1991, and she has since dedicated herself to advancing traditional arts and culture bearers. In 1997, she co-founded the Alliance for California Traditional Arts (ACTA), transforming it into a powerhouse for cultural advocacy and support. Under her leadership, ACTA has grown from a fledgling organization to a statewide institution with offices in Fresno, San Francisco, and Los Angeles and a $3 million annual operating budget. ACTA supports diverse cultural communities across California through grants, public programs, and initiatives, including working with incarcerated populations.

Beyond ACTA, Amy has made significant national contributions to the field. She served as Chair of the American Folklife Center’s Board of Trustees and plays a key role in the NEA’s National Folklife Network. Her cultural policy work is equally impressive; Amy has co-authored influential reports and papers in which she called for funders to support small grassroots organizations (2012) and commissioned health researchers to explore the connections between well-being and cultural heritage practice back in 2008. These collaborations have positioned Amy as a respected thought leader, particularly in advocating for traditional arts within philanthropic and policy frameworks.

Her recent co-authored publication, Tending the Taproot: Opportunities to Support Folk and Traditional Arts in the U.S., supported by the Mellon Foundation, has become an essential resource for funders, cultural workers and culture bearers.. This fresh re-framing of the impacts of folklife practice outlines the critical role traditional arts play in fostering cultural resilience and community well-being, challenging funders to rethink how they support these art forms.

Established in 1960, the Fellows of the American Folklore Society represent the pinnacle of achievement in the field. They are folklorists advancing through mentorship, public engagement, scholarship, cultural preservation, and service. Amy’s induction as a Fellow underscores her deep dedication to public folklore and her visionary leadership, which has shaped both local and national cultural landscapes. Her work reflects ACTA’s mission of supporting traditional artists and communities while shaping a national dialogue around the importance of cultural democracy.

We are honored to celebrate Amy Kitchener’s induction into this distinguished group and her lifetime of contributions to folklore. Please join us in celebrating this extraordinary achievement and Amy’s remarkable legacy. Congratulations, Amy!

The post Amy Kitchener inducted as AFS Fellow, honoring decades of leadership in folklore appeared first on Alliance for California Traditional Arts.

  “Taproot AF”: Radical Support for Culture Bearers and Communities

Amy Kitchener presented at the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, alongside Taproot Fellow and Puerto Rican multidisciplinary theater artist Pedro Adorno Irizarry. Together, Amy and Pedro shared insights into ACTA’s national Taproot Artists & Community Trust program, which provides unrestricted $50,000 fellowships to support culture bearers and grassroots arts initiatives.

When asked how state arts agencies can bring ‘radical’ change, I encouraged them: “Don’t call it radical—just do it.”

—Amy Kitchener
Executive Director and co-founder of ACTA

Read MORE about Amy’s experience →

Aliah Najmabadi advocates for apprenticeship programs

Aliah Najmabadi, Program Manager and traditional dance artist, spoke on the panel “Creating the Future through the Storm: Cultural Intervention, Cultural Sustainability, and the Role of State Apprenticeship Programs.” Aliah joined fellow panelists Philitha Stemplys-Cowdrey and Amy Mills, led by Forum Chair Kate Schramm, to discuss the powerful impact of state apprenticeship programs on preserving cultural heritage.

Amy Kitchener discusses the NEA’s National Folklife Network

Executive Director and co-founder Amy Kitchener was a panelist for “Folk Arts by Any Other Name: The NEA’s National Folklife Network.” In a session chaired by Maribel Alvarez, Amy joined a distinguished panel that included Claudio Mir, Lori Pourier, Selina Morales, Corey Travis, and Tasha Abourezk. Together, they discussed their joint efforts to build a new national network to support diverse folk arts nationwide, exploring innovative ways to promote cultural resilience and community engagement through traditional arts expressions.

Juhi Gupta receives AFS grant

Juhi Gupta, Digital Media Specialist, was awarded the AFS Gerald L. Davis grant. Named in memory of folklorist Gerald L. Davis, this grant supports persons of color committed to community development through folklore.

The post ACTA staff represent in Albuquerque and San Juan appeared first on Alliance for California Traditional Arts.

Now entering its 24th cycle, ACTA’s Apprenticeship Program has supported California’s cultural traditions, providing 452 contracts to outstanding traditional artists and culture bearers. Each mentor artist, selected for their expertise in traditional arts, receives a $5,000 contract to cover fees, supplies, and travel expenses, allowing them to engage in intensive, hands-on mentorship with their apprentices. Throughout the program, participants collaborate closely with ACTA staff to develop and document their apprenticeships, culminating in a public event where they have the opportunity to showcase their work to a public audience within their community.

The 2024 cohort of 44 artists (22 pairs) represents a diverse range of California’s cultural communities, continuing thriving indigenous Californian traditions like basket weaving in the Hupa, Pomo, and Wukchumni communities, while other apprenticeships celebrate cultural practices that have taken root in California, originally hailing from Afghanistan, Hungary, Ghana, Indonesia, Cuba, Mexico, and more. Spanning counties from Humboldt to Los Angeles, these apprenticeships not only highlight the state’s diverse cultural landscape but also foster intergenerational learning, strengthening connections within families and broader communities.

ACTA is pleased to announce the 22 statewide artist pairs contracted in the 2024 Apprenticeship Program:

Kwaku Manu + Kwesi Anku
Pinole, Contra Costa Co. + Richmond, Contra Costa Co.
Ghanaian Agbekor Traditional Drumming of the Ewe People

Kwaku Manu will mentor Kwesi Anku to advance Kwesi’s skills in the traditional music and dance of Ghana, particularly the Agbekor and Atamga traditions, as a lead drummer.

Julia Cepeda + Ansarys Andino
Oakland, Alameda Co. + San Francisco, San Francisco Co.
Afro-Puerto Rican Bomba Dance

Julia Cepeda, of the Rafael Cepeda family, will mentor Ansarys Andino in the Afro-Puerto Rican dance tradition of Bomba, with a focus on dance paseo (travel of dance space), figuras (figures), piquetes (dance solos and movement) within each rhythm in Bomba, culminating in the development of choreography.

Joko Sutrisno + Mel Liu
Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co. + Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co.
Javanese Gamelan of Indonesia

Pak Joko Sutrisno will mentor Mel Liu in the dynamic music patterns of Javanese Gamelan. Mel will deepen their understanding and applied skill in the advanced instruments of the gamelan, including kendhang, gendér, and bonang, while developing a deeper understanding of the concept of iromo—different temporal density flows of beats contained within a gotro.

Roshni Pillai + Janhavi Pillai
San Jose, Santa Clara Co. + San Jose, Santa Clara Co.
Kathakali Dance of India

Janhavi Pillai’s apprenticeship with her mother and mentor, Roshni Pillai, will deepen her understanding of Kathakali. This will include mastering the extensive vocabulary of its communicative hand gestures and learning advanced ‘Kalaasam’ (concluding pure dance patterns). Janhavi will also explore the complex dialogue and emotional range of the ‘Sthree Vesham’ (female role) character of Lalitha from the Kathakali play “Kirmeeravadham” to portray her effectively on stage.

Homayun Sakhi + Yusuf Zaka
Tracy, San Joaquin Co. + Sacramento, Sacramento Co.
Afghan Music of the Rubab

Homayun Sakhi will mentor Yusuf Zaka in the traditional music of Afghanistan on the Afghan Rubab. This apprenticeship will focus on learning Rag Bihag, developing stamina for the right-hand technique of Dir-Dir (an up-and-down stroke on one or more strings), and mastering the Bachgi technique (playing the melody while stroking sympathetic strings to create a simultaneous rhythmic partner).

Anuradha Suresh + Amrita Varshini Gunasekaran
Fremont, Alameda Co. + Fremont, Alameda Co.
South Indian Music of Harikatha

Anuradha Suresh returns to the Apprenticeship Program to mentor Amrita Varshini Gunasekaran in Harikatha, a traditional South Indian art form that intertwines storytelling, poetry, and Carnatic music based on the Hindu epics of the Mahabharata and Ramayana.

Ferenc Tobak + Mathias Tobak
Mendocino, Mendocino Co. + Mendocino, Mendocino Co.
Hungarian & Croatian Bagpipe Music of the Carpathian Basin

Mentor artist Ferenc Tobak will return to the Apprenticeship Program to teach his son, Mathias Ferenc, the techniques and skills of bagpipe playing from the Transdanubian region of Hungary. On the instrument known as Duda (Hungary) or Gajde (Croatia), they will focus on breath control and intonation to produce continuous pressure while blowing air into the instrument, as well as the specific open and closed fingering styles.

Maricela Martinez + Karen Pablo
Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co. + Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co.
Mexican Mariachi Music

Maricela Martinez will mentor Karen Pablo in Mexican Mariachi music, aiming to pass down knowledge on achieving the mariachi style, changing keys, expanding shared repertoire, and offering performance opportunities.

Bernadette Smith + Precious Thomas
Sacramento Co. + Sonoma Co.
Coastal Pomo Song Traditions

Bernadette Smith (Pomo) will guide her apprentice, Precious Thomas (Pomo), in the traditional ways and practices needed to assume the responsibility of Song Holder. This role solidifies the importance of Coastal Pomo women in Roundhouse ceremonies, preparing Precious to sing and conduct a whole set of the To’to Ko’O (Feather Dance).

César Castro + Rebecca Gómez
Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co. + Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co.
Son Jarocho Music of Veracruz

César Castro returns to the Apprenticeship Program to mentor Rebecca Gómez in the technique and repertoire of Son Jarocho music from Veracruz, Mexico. The focus will be on musicality, adornment, and leadership development in performance settings.

Kristian Kubuay + Iggy Mora
Oakland, Alameda Co. + San Francisco, San Francisco Co.
Pre-Colonial Philippine Traditional Tattooing

Kristian Kubuay will mentor Iggy Mora in the traditional practice of Philippine tattooing. The apprenticeship will cover skills including tool-making, hand-poke marking techniques, storytelling through traditional patterns, and skin stretching, as well as the use of symbolic patterns from various Philippine ethnolinguistic groups.

Jennifer Malone + Destiny Treglown
Exeter, Tulare Co. + Exeter, Tulare Co.
Wukchumi Basket Weaving

Jennifer Malone (Wukchumi) returns to the Apprenticeship Program to mentor Destiny Treglown (Wukchumi/Yokuts) in the tradition of Wukchumi basket weaving. From gathering and processing natural materials to the weaving process, this apprenticeship will immerse the Treglown in the Wukchumi language.

Wang Xiong + Pha Xiong
Long Beach, Los Angeles Co. + Long Beach, Los Angeles Co.
Hmong Funeral Traditions

Wang Xiong returns to the Apprenticeship Program to teach his son, Pha Xiong, the Txiv Xaiv, a set of Hmong funeral song rites. This includes memorizing over 30 songs with the correct tones and adapting the songs to tell the individual’s story.

Jenny Bawer Young + Lauren Benetua
Long Beach, Los Angeles Co. + Oakland, Alameda Co.
Kalinga Backstrap Loom Weaving of the Philippines

Jenny Bawer Young returns to the Apprenticeship Program to mentor Lauren Benetua a second time in the art of Kalinga Laga (backstrap loom weaving from Kalinga province, Philippines). The focus will be on expanding Lauren’s weaving vocabulary in the Kalinga language and learning about the native plants and fibers historically used for laga production.

Rosa Maria Fuentes Islas + Adela Diaz-Villalta
Huntington Park, Los Angeles Co. + Sacramento, Sacramento Co.
Traditional Danza Azteca Trajes

Rosa Maria Fuentes Islas will teach Adela Diaz-Villalta the techniques of creating trajes bordados used in Danza Azteca ceremonies, with a focus on hand embroidery and the importance of pattern creation. This apprenticeship will lead to the creation of an embroidered traje for ceremonial dancing.

Kala Ramnath + Aadi Kale
Redwood City, San Mateo Co. + Sunnyvale, Santa Clara Co.
North Indian Classical Music

Kala Ramnath will mentor Aadi Kale, focusing on expanding Aadi’s repertoire of Raags while improving performance skills and improvisation within Raags. Aadi will also work on increasing vocal steadiness for soulful phrases (Alaaps) and mastering high-tempo phrases (Taans).

Madiou Diouf + Ababacar Kouyate
Oakland, Alameda Co. + Oakland, Alameda Co.
Senegalese Drumming

Madiou Diouf will teach Ababacar Kouyate the origin, construction, history, and technique of the complex rhythmic patterns of Senegalese drumming and their role in African dance accompaniment.

Lue Her + Shue Her
Merced, Merced Co. + Merced, Merced Co.
Hmong Cultural Tradition of Mejkoob

Shue Her, under the guidance of his father Lue Her, will undergo a transformative journey to master the role of Mejkoob in Hmong wedding rituals. This involves learning not only the musical intricacies of Hmong music but also delivering ceremonial duties with precision and authenticity.

Sonam Phuntsok + Tenzin Thinley
El Cerrito, Contra Costa Co. + Richmond, Contra Costa Co.
Tibetan Opera Singing Style of Namthar

Sonam Phuntsok will mentor Tenzin Thinley in the traditional singing of Tibetan Opera. The singing style, known as Namthar, is a fundamental element of Tibetan Opera, demanding both intensive training and stamina, as well as a deep understanding of the art form.

Katiuska Lebental + Cecilia Slongo
Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co. + Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co.
Afro-Cuban Dance

Katiuska Lebental will mentor Cecilia Slongo in Afro-Cuban folkloric dance. This mentorship will enhance Cecilia’s understanding of the specificity of the dances of the Orishas (divine spirits), leading to improved dance skills, cultural awareness, and a deeper comprehension of the evolution of Yoruba heritage in Cuba.

Deborah McConnell + Natalie Scott
Hoopa, Humboldt Co. + Hoopa, Humboldt Co.
Basket Cap Weaving in the Hupa Tradition 

Deborah McConnell (Hupa) will mentor Natalie Scott (Hupa, Yurok, Karuk) in Hupa weaving techniques and the gathering and processing of materials for the creation of a traditional Hupa basket hat.

Melody Williams + Kayla Lowell
Arcata, Humboldt Co. + Willits, Mendocino Co.
Coil & Open Twine Basketry in the Pomo Tradition

Melody Williams (Pomo) will pass down traditional ecological knowledge to Kayla Lowell (Pomo), along with teaching the specific basket weaving techniques of coil and open twine baskets, which have been traditionally passed down from generation to generation.

Congratulations to our exceptional 2024 Apprenticeship Program cohort!

The Apprenticeship Program is generously supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and the Walter & Elise Haas Fund, with additional support from the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation, and ArtPlace San Joaquin Valley.

The post Announcing the 2024 ACTA Apprenticeship Cohort appeared first on Alliance for California Traditional Arts.

The post Announcing the inaugural 2024 Taproot Fellows appeared first on Alliance for California Traditional Arts.

This year’s cohort invited individual artists and culture bearers for the first time, after previously focusing funding only on organizations and community groups. With the generous support of the California Arts Council, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Walter and Elise Haas Fund, 50 individual artists and culture bearers will receive $5,000, and 48 organizations and community groups will receive $12,500 in all regions of the state.

Our 2023 cohort represents a tapestry of cultural communities and artistic traditions woven throughout California, from Siskiyou to San Diego. We’re proud to promote them all: the ecological knowledge of Big Valley Rancheria in upstate Lake County, Triqui textiles in Monterey County, Lao language and dance in Fresno County, West African Malinke music in San Bernardino County, and many more. Look out for more details on each grantee on our website and social media later this year and beyond!

The post Announcing ACTA’s 2023 Living Cultures Grantees appeared first on Alliance for California Traditional Arts.

Aliah Najmabadi

Program Manager, San Francisco Field Office

Aliah Najmabadi is a traditional dance artist and culture worker based in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over two decades of experience in cultural programming and community development, Aliah’s passion lies in the preservation of traditional arts practices. Rooted in the Iranian/Central Asian dance community, Aliah is extensively involved in the traditional performing arts landscape of the Bay Area, cultivated through her involvement with organizations such as Golden Thread Productions, Afsaneh Arts, The Isadora Duncan Dance Awards, World Arts West and Diaspora Arts. She brings a wealth of knowledge from her extensive fieldwork in Tajikistan and Afghanistan’s high mountain regions where she managed bio-cultural stewardship initiatives, supporting indigenous performing arts, and built strong relationships with traditional artists and culture bearers in her role as the Program Manager of the Tajik Dance Initiative. Aliah’s work is driven by a profound sense of purpose—to make a positive impact through cultural programming and arts advocacy. She is eager to give back to the traditional arts community and empower fellow traditional artists and culture bearers in her role at ACTA.

Aliah holds a master’s degree in Performance from the University of London’s School of Oriental & African Studies and bachelor’s degrees from UCLA in both World Arts & Cultures and Near Eastern Language & Culture. Aliah joined ACTA in October 2023, where she manages the Apprenticeship Program and supports the Living Cultures Grant Program, Traditional Arts Roundtable series, and the Taproot Artists & Community Trust.

What most excites me about working with ACTA is the opportunity to be part of an organization that genuinely values and most importantly, directly supports, the continuation of living cultural heritages. I’m particularly excited about collaborating with traditional artists and culture bearers throughout California as their rich knowledge and creativity are essential in keeping cultural traditions alive, and I look forward to learning from and working alongside them. Ultimately, what excites me the most is the chance to play a meaningful role in ensuring that traditional arts, both tangible and intangible, continue to thrive and enrich the lives of Californians for generations to come.

Juhi Gupta

Digital Media Specialist, San Francisco Field Office

Juhi Gupta is the Digital Media Specialist at ACTA. She is a designer and creative strategist with a deep-seated desire and vision for a more equitable world. Juhi began her career in social justice as a community organizer on the South Side of Chicago, and her background is in design, communications, and marketing for progressive causes – from supporting artists with disabilities to fighting mass incarceration in California. She has received several awards for her digital and print designs, and she has trained and spoken at SF Design Week, the University of San Francisco, People’s Action, Emerge California, Million Voters Project, and more.

Juhi graduated with honors bachelor’s degrees in public policy and visual arts from the University of Chicago in 2019. She is also a graduate of Arena Academy, Bay Area Solidarity Summer, and Chicago Artists Coalition’s LAUNCH Invitational Residency. In her spare time, Juhi enjoys DJing as Lil Sur, experimenting with new art forms, and reading critical media theory.

What excites me most about working with ACTA is the opportunity to meet, work with, and learn from traditional artists in my home state who have centuries of wisdom to share, and the task of bringing their contributions to art, culture, and society to the attention of the broader world. 

Nathan Thammavong

IT / Administrative Specialist, Fresno Field Office

Nathan Thammavong is an IT Administrator based in Fresno, CA. Within ACTA, Nathan will work to research, train, implement, and consolidate technology services that provide support to all programs within ACTA. He graduated from California State University, Fresno with a degree in Business Information Systems with a focus on app development. An app that he worked on previously named ‘PeddlerNow’ was designed to connect the local community together by showing the locations of local street vendors to new and existing customers. Along with managing current and new technologies within ACTA, Nathan will also work closely with the administrative department to help organize and optimize day to day workflows.

I think I am most excited to work with the team to achieve new heights as well as be able to immerse myself and learn more about the different cultures and demographics ACTA comes into contact with.

The post Welcoming Three New ACTA Staff Members appeared first on Alliance for California Traditional Arts.

Now entering its 23rd cycle, ACTA’s Apprenticeship Program encourages the continuity of the state’s living cultural heritage by contracting exemplary mentor artists to offer intensive training and mentorship to skilled apprentices. Contracts of $5,000 are made with California-based mentor artists to cover their fees, supplies, and travel. Participants work closely with ACTA staff to develop and document the apprenticeships, culminating in opportunities to share results of their work with the public.

The 2023 Apprenticeship Program cohort of 48 artists (24 pairs) represents California’s breadth of cultural diversity and intergenerational learning, totaling a statewide investment of $120,000. The pairs range from mentor artists in their 70s to an 11-year old apprentice, spanning from Ventura to Humboldt Counties. These apprenticeships continue thriving traditions, including indigenous California cultural practices such as Me-wuk and Ohlone basket weaving, or bow and spoon making in the Hoopa tradition. Others celebrate traditions which have taken root in California, including those that originally hail from Iran, Puerto Rico, Peru, the Philippines, and communities including Hmong, Lao, Native Hawaiian, and Zapotec, and others.

ACTA is pleased to announce the 24 statewide artist pairs contracted in the 2023 Apprenticeship Program:

Beverly Cantrell + Taweah Garcia
Redding, Shasta Co. + Dunlap, Fresno Co.
Cradleboard Basketry in the tradition of the Pit River Nation

Beverly Cantrell (Pit River Nation) and Taweah Garcia (Pit River Nation) will gather cradleboard materials, prepare willows, and make designs unique to their tribe, ultimately completing a cradleboard.

Claudio Vega + Dolores “Lolis” García
El Cerrito + Richmond, Contra Costa Co.
Traditional Son Jarocho Music

Claudio Vega will teach Lolis to sing and present son jarocho songs, so society will see her playing the music on an instrument which women have historically not been allowed to use.

Conrad Jaminola Benedicto + Jinji Sayson
San Francisco, San Francisco Co. + San Jose, Santa Clara Co.
Kulintang Music of the Southern Philippines, from the Kalanduyan line

Conrad Jaminola Benedicto, two-time ACTA apprentice of the late NEA National Heritage Fellow Danongan Kalanduyan, returns to the Apprenticeship Program as a mentor to Jinji, who will learn the basic rhythmic and melodic patterns on all ensemble instruments for Kamamatuan and Kangungudan, styles of kulintang music.

Denise Solis + Leslie Quintanilla
Oakland, Alameda Co.
Afro-Puerto Rican Bomba

Denise Solis will train experienced Bomba dancer Leslie Quintanilla to become a buleo drummer and holistic practitioner of Bomba, a tradition in which dancing, drumming, and singing are collectively rotated roles.

Estela Sosa Bautista + Benita Martínez Sosa
Moorpark, Ventura Co.
Zapotecan Sarape and Woven Memories | Sarape Zapoteco y Memorias Tejidas

Estela Sosa Bautista will guide her daughter, Benita Martínez Sosa, to independently make a sarape (a woven garment similar to a shawl), create natural dyes, and use a large loom.

George Blake + Takatamah Yeship Montgomery
Hoopa, Humboldt Co.
Bow and spoon making in the Hoopa tradition

NEA National Heritage Fellow and 2014 Apprenticeship Program mentor George Blake (Hoopa, Yurok) will teach his grandson Takatamah Yeship Montgomery (Hoopa, Yurok) to craft sinew-backed bows and carve elk horn antlers in the Hoopa Tradition.

Jennifer Bates + Jeanette Innerarity
Tuolumne, Tuolumne Co. + Elk Grove, Sacramento Co.
Traditional Me-wuk/Miwok Basket Weaving

Jennifer Bates (Northern Sierra Mewuk), who participated in the Apprenticeship Program as a mentor in 2011 and 2017, will instruct Jeanette Innerarity (Ione Band of Miwok) in identifying and collecting native plant materials, preparing them for use, and creating a basket.

Jesus Cortez + Cecilia Cassandra Peña-Govea (La Doña)
Daly City, San Mateo Co. + Oakland, Alameda Co.
Zapateado Jarocho

Jesus Cortez will mentor La Doña in zapateado choreographies and the compositional form of Sones Jarochos, culminating in two presentations accompanied by live musicians.

Kawika Keikiali`i Alfiche + Anjal Pong
South San Francisco, San Mateo Co. + San Francisco, San Francisco Co.
Hula (Hawaiian Cultural Arts) / Halau o Keikiali`i (Hawaiian)

Kawika Keikiali`i Alfiche, a mentor in the 2008 Apprenticeship Program, will work with Anjal Pong to make four types of hula: Puniu (coconut knee drum), `Uli`uli (featherless gourd rattle), `Ulili (triple gourd top), and Lapaiki (small skinned drum), as well as to study their accompanying styles of oli (chant) and kaona (layered symbolisms).

Linda Yamane + Violet Smith
Seaside, Monterey Co.
Ohlone Coiled Basketry

2000, 2010, and 2014 Apprenticeship Program mentor Linda Yamane (Rumsen Ohlone) will share her knowledge of Ohlone fine coiled basketry with Violet Smith (Rumsen/Ramaytush Ohlone), including how to gather, prepare, and weave materials, while incorporating Rumsen language and songs into their activities.

Maggie Peters + Misty Knight
Willow Creek + Hoopa, Humboldt Co.
Traditional Baby Basket Weaving in the Yurok, Hupa, and Karuk traditions

Maggie Peters (Yurok, Karuk), a mentor in the 2014 and 2018 cycles of the Apprentice Program, will teach Misty Knight (Hupa, Yurok) to create a traditional Yurok baby basket, from gathering, cleaning, and sorting materials to weaving them together.

Mamady “Wadaba” Kourouma + Donte McDaniel
Kaweah, Tulare Co. + Fresno, Fresno Co.
West African Traditional Djembe Drumming

Mamady “Wadaba” Kourouma and Donte McDaniel, an artist pair during the 2021 Apprenticeship Program, return in 2023 for Donte to learn familial rhythms and the Guinean style of drumming.

Marjan Vahdat + Heranoosh Talebzadeh
Rocklin, Placer Co. + Irvine, Orange Co.
Persian traditional Radif singing

Marjan Vahdat will mentor Heranoosh Talebzadeh in developing a personal, unique way of presenting traditional and regional Persian music by instructing her in Radif (a system of organize repertoire), Tahrir (a freeform vocal technique), and Persian poetry.

Marsha Carter + Zondra Martin
Stockton, San Joaquin Co. + Oakland, Alameda Co.
African American Traditional Quilting

Marsha Carter will guide Zondra Martin in studying African diasporic women brought to America from Ghana and to western India from the South African Bantu, while also teaching her traditional African strip/string and patchwork quilting techniques.

Nadhi Thekkek + Shruti Abhishek
Alamo, Contra Costa Co. + Livermore, Alameda Co.
South Asian Dance – Bharatanatyam

Nadhi Thekkek will mentor Shruti Abhishek in researching literature on the goddess Bhadrakali and its adaptions into Bharatanatyam dance movements. Shruti will then develop a unique Bharatanatyam piece representing the legend.

Nitya Narasimhan + Charanya Kannan
Sunnyvale + San Jose, Santa Clara Co.
South Asian Dance – Bharatanatyam

Nitya Narasimhan will lead Charanya Kannan through a holistic program including body awareness, Nritta (technique), emoting, Talam (rhythm), choreography nuances, Bharatanatyam dance theory, and the analysis of historic texts in order to infuse their meanings into choreography.

Pezhham Akhavass + Tiyam Fereydouni
Albany + Berkeley, Alameda Co.
Tombak (Persian Goblet Drum)

Pezhham Akhavass will instruct Tiyam Fereydouni in intermediate and advanced tombak techniques, including singing and playing in Farsi, reciting Tasnif (a form of Persian music), practicing pieces from the Iranian Radif, and performing both solo and with other musicians.

Pierr Padilla Vasquez + Yussef Padilla Nuñez
Oakland, Alameda Co.
Afro-Peruvian Cajón | Cajón Afroperuano

Returning 2019 Apprenticeship Program mentor Pierr Padilla Vasquez will train his son, Yussef Padilla Nuñez, in the Afro-Peruvian technique for playing and performing Cajón, including the most popular Afro-Peruvian music genres (Festejo, Alcatraz, Landó, Son de los Diablos, Pregón, and Zamacueca).

Roman “Ito” Carrillo + Pablo Paredes Burgos
San Lorenzo + Albany, Alameda Co.
Puerto Rican Bomba

Roman “Ito” Carrillo will help Pablo Paredes Burgos master three instruments (maracas, cuas, and barriles), four Bomba rhythms (Sicá, Yubá, Cuembé, and Holnadé), dances for each rhythm, and the established cannon of rhythmic phrases and dance expressions for Primo drumming. This will be Carrillo’s third cycle in the Apprenticeship Program, after participating as a mentor in 2006 and 2014.

Seibi Lee + Sonali Toppur
Kensington, Contra Costa Co. + Fremont, Alameda Co.
Kathak

2016 mentor Seibi Lee returns to the Apprenticeship Program to teach Sonali Toppur how to develop a story involving Ganesh (the Hindu elephant god), translate it into dance, and present it as a solo performance.

Sid Vixay + Connor Phelan
Clovis + Fresno, Fresno Co.
Lanaad, Lao Traditional Musical Instrument

Sid Vixay will guide Connor Phelan in studying different methods for playing the lanaad and in mastering Lao Classical songs, including Lao Kasae, Champa Meing Lao, Dok Bouathong, Lao Sieng Tien, and Sai Lom Yen.

Titania Buchholdt + Patrici Flores
Richmond, Contra Costa Co. + Northern California
Kulintang Music of the Philippines

Titania Buchholdt, who participated in the Apprenticeship Program in 1999-2000 as an apprentice to the late master artist Danongan Kalanduyan, and also as a mentor in 2017, will instruct Patrici Flores in kulintang ensemble music and the cultures which gave rise to it, focusing on pieces from Maguindanaon and Maranao cultures.

Tony Lor + Ye Thao
Merced, Merced Co.
Qeej (Kheng) Hmong Traditional windpipe flute

Tony Lor will teach Ye Thao the qeej (kheng) songs required for Hmong funerals, such as the four- to ten-hour “Soul Guidance Song,” as well as the related dance moves and breathing techniques.

Yuval Ron + Dor Haberer
Studio City, L.A. Co. + Smartsville, Nevada Co.
Jewish Oud music

Yuval Ron will mentor Dor Haberer in Moroccan, Israeli/Palestinian, and Ladino songs, along with piyutim (Jewish prayer chants), rhythm and timing, Makaams (scales), and weaving stories into songs.

The Apprenticeship Program is a program of the Alliance for California Traditional Arts (ACTA), generously supported by ArtPlace San Joaquin Valley, the Walter & Elise Haas Fund, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation. Additional support provided by the California Arts Council, and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture.

The post Announcing the 2023 ACTA Apprenticeship Cohort appeared first on Alliance for California Traditional Arts.

César is a professional musician in the Son Jarocho genre, a luthier (stringed instrument maker) and an instructor. He is an active liaison between communities in the US and Veracruz Mexico for over 15 years via Radio Jarochelo, a community-based podcast started in 2010 (now live on public radio), and through organizing and promoting cultural projects, artist residencies with musicians from Veracruz, and events in local communities, cultural centers, schools, universities and, most recently, in California state prisons.

César has established a career emphasis on community building, organizing and engagement through projects in participatory art forms, specifically, traditional Son Jarocho music from Veracruz, Mexico. He holds vast knowledge and experience in the Son Jarocho/Fandango traditional art forms and engages disenfranchised communities in building self-sustaining projects that tap into and build upon cultural knowledge, embodied experience and memory.

What excites you the most about the work of ACTA? 

What excites me most about ACTA’s work, without a doubt, is that it is a non-profit organization that supports the development of traditional cultures–and at the same time–supports new cultural manifestations that are emerging in the always changing and complex Californian society. At ACTA you can find projects from many parts of the world and in various artistic manifestations such as handmade goods, music, dance, poetry, etc. that take place in both public spaces around the city and in the prisons of the state of California.

César Castro llega a ACTA como coordinador de programas de Reinserción a Través de las Artes y La Cultura Cura y es responsable de apoyar con la coordinación de talleres semanales de artes tradicionales en línea y en persona para estos programas. César se ha comprometido con los diversos programas de ACTA como artista colaborador durante muchos años, incluso como artista docente en el programa Artes en la Correccionales.

César es un músico profesional en el género Son Jarocho, un laudero (fabricante de instrumentos de cuerda) y un instructor. El e un enlace activo entre las comunidades en los EE. UU. y Veracruz México durante más de 15 años a través de Radio Jarochelo, un podcast comunitario que comenzó en 2010 (ahora en vivo en la radio pública), y a través de la organización y promoción de proyectos culturales, residencias artísticas con músicos de Veracruz, y eventos en comunidades locales, centros culturales, escuelas, universidades y, más recientemente, en prisiones estatales de California.

César ha establecido un énfasis profesional en la construcción comunitaria, la organización y la participación  a través de proyectos con formas de arte participativas, específicamente, la música tradicional Son Jarocho de Veracruz, México. Tiene un vasto conocimiento y experiencia en las formas de arte tradicionales de Son Jarocho/Fandango e involucra a las comunidades marginadas en la construcción de proyectos autosuficientes que aprovechan y se basan en el conocimiento cultural, la experiencia encarnada y la memoria.

¿Qué es lo que más te emociona del trabajo de ACTA?

Lo que más me emociona del trabajo de ACTA sin duda es que es una organización sin fines de lucro que apoya el desarrollo de las culturas tradicionales y al mismo tiempo promueve nuevas manifestaciones culturales que emergen en la cambiante y compleja sociedad californiana. En ACTA se encuentra uno con proyectos de muchas partes del mundo y en diversas manifestaciones artísticas como las manuales, musicales, dancísticas, poéticas, etc. que se desarrollan tanto en los espacios públicos de la ciudad como en los centros penitenciarios del estado de California. 

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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.

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.

Below, Chike responds to a few of our questions about working with ACTA.

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Since 2005, the Living Cultures grants have supported over 750 community-based projects, with $4 million in funding across 50 counties in California. This year’s cohort represents the first time the program has had a Bay Area focus in its 17-year history. Our 2022 cohort represents a diverse array of cultural communities and their respective artistic forms of knowledge. We’re proud to promote them all, from the traditions of indigenous Oaxacan communities based in Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz, to the creation of Romani drums for Bay Area wide workshops, and support for an evening of Native comedy in Orinda.

We acknowledge the support of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and Walter and Elise Haas Fund for their continued funding of the diverse array of cultural communities and their respective artistic forms of knowledge.

Introducing our 2022 grantees. Congratulations!

Afro-Peruvian Fest

San Francisco
Afro-Peruvian Fest

The 4^th annual Afro-Peruvian Fest will host a month-long series of free accessible programs for the general public with music, dance, panels, and a photo exhibit.

Afro Urban Society

Oakland
Egwu Onwu: Making a Mixtape for Those Who Have Left Us

The interactive gathering invites artists & cultural workers of African descent to explore death and mourning drawing from the Igbo traditions.

Au Co Vietnamese Cultural Center

San Francisco
Songs of Resilience: Preserving Community Culture Through Southern Vietnamese Folk Music

Vietnamese opera and South Vietnamese folk music workshops for Vietnamese youth ages, K-12 will be taught by genre culture-bearers.

Bharata Dance & Allied Arts

San Francisco
IDIA 2022: I Dance hence I AM

A Bharatanatyam festival and conference hosting Bay Area, national, and international Bharatanatyam artists will be held in Palo Alto for the public August 19-21.

Black Banjo & Fiddle Fellowship

Oakland
Black Banjo & Fiddle Fellowship

Master banjo and fiddle musicians of the American South will mentor four local African-American musicians (“Fellows”) who will continue to teach and establish an ongoing old-time music program at the Oakland Public Conservatory of Music.

Black Female Project Inc.

Oakland
Black Women’s Blues Festival

The Black Women’s Blues Festival will highlight diverse Black female talent from emerging to veteran artists in a concert, live radio broadcast and free video livestream.

BoomShake Music

Oakland
BoomShake Community Cajón Circles

The organization will provide a series of free, intergenerational workshops  on traditional Afro-Peruvian percussion, song, and culture to youth and adults.

BrasArte: The Damasceno Brazilian Cultural Exchange

Berkeley
Yemanjá Arts Festival 2023

A month long festival in honor of the Yoruba goddess Yemanjá will consist of lectures, panels, dance and percussion workshops culminating in two dance performances.

Cambodian Cultural Dance Troupe of San Jose

San Jose
Bay Area Cultural Festival

The festival featuring live music and traditional dance will invite Cambodian communities throughout the Bay Area and Central Valley to present their various cultural programs.

Carnatic Chamber Concerts

Fremont
Sangeeta Vaibhavam- Music Festival

A concert of South Indian Carnatic music will promote the advanced study of music theory and performance techniques for students.

Cunamacué

Oakland
Huellas/ Footprints

The project centers the Afro-Peruvian dance, Son de los Diablos in a theater performance, free dance and music workshops and conference.

Gâta Bantu

Santa Cruz
Ha Mbongui African Dance and Drum Conference

A three-day conference with guest teachers from Congo, Haiti, Guinea and Senegal will teach traditional dance, drum, and song.

Geoffrey’s Inner Circle

Oakland
Give The Drummer Some – Masterclass Series

Six free masterclasses with renowned local drummers from the traditions of jazz and blues will be offered to local youth of color.

Grupo Nauhcampa Comunidad de Danza Conchera

Morgan Hill
Festividad en Honor a Nuestra Señora Santa Ana Tlazolteotl

Funds will support a three-day observance in honor of Nuestra Señora Santa Ana Tlazolteotl, a sacred image from Indigenous Mexican heritage.

Japanese Cultural Fair

Santa Cruz
Japanese Cultural Fair

The one-day gathering features traditional Japanese dance, music, food, material arts, history displays, and vendors

La Raíz Magazine

Santa Clara
Community Alebrije Sculpture Workshop & Showcase

Free public workshops in paper sculpture technique, rooted in Oaxacan traditions will culminate with a display at a Day of the Dead showcase.

Mahea Uchiyama Center for International Dance

Berkeley
The African American Mbira Project

The project will introduce, support, and perpetuate the mbira within the African American community with classes, lectures and practices.

Manilatown Heritage Foundation

San Francisco
Kultura Kapwa & Komunity Kultura

Free monthly education programs include workshops on music, dance and regalia traditions of the Maguindanao, Maranao, Tausug and Kalinga tribes.

Meir Noy Yiddish Song Project

Berkeley
Meir Noy Yiddish Song Project (Doubly Suppressed, Doubly Forgotten)

Previously unknown collection of rare Yiddish songs from the Ukraine will be shared with the public through recordings, community presentations and workshops for the public.

NAKA Dance Theater

Oakland
Maya Mam Traditional Weaving Collaborative Learning Circle

The year long project focuses on traditional weaving practices of the Indigenous Maya Mam immigrant community based in Alameda county.

Native Comedy Festival

Oakland
Good Medicine Native Comedy

Funds will support Native comedians and sketch comedy groups showcasing Native talent.

Northern California Gagaku Group

Berkeley
Northern California Gagaku Group Instrument Acquisition

Funds will be used to commission and purchase shōkō and shō instruments to expand the Gagaku Orchestra.

Oaxaca Tierra del Sol

Healdsburg
Oaxaca Tierra del Sol Guelaguetza

The celebration brings together the Oaxacan community to celebrate culture of their home state with displays of indigenous and folk dance, gastronomy and crafts in Santa Rosa

Parangal

San Francisco
Magtagung Gu/Playing the Yakan Traditional Music Ensemble

Funds will be used to research and develop repertoire based upon the traditional music and cultural practices of the Yakan, a Muslim tribe in Mindanao, Philippines.

Purple Silk Music Education Foundation, Inc.

Oakland
Honoring Our Elders: Music for Community Healing and Resilience—Traditional Chinese Music Program for Underserved Students (Grades 1-12)

Cantonese music specialists will provide music programs to youth in Oakland and San Francisco

Rara Tou Limen Haitian Dance Company

Oakland
Rasanble! Haitian Arts & Culture Festival

Master Haitian artists will engage the community through educational activities, dance, song and drum classes, speakers, cuisine, marketplace, and performances.

School of The Getdown

Berkeley
Oakland Black Music Festival: A Cultural Mosaic

A concert featuring a multigenerational, cross-genre array of musicians will celebrating traditional Black art forms of blues, gospel, R&B, country, hip-hop, and jazz featuring Bay Area artists.

Senderos

Santa Cruz
Connecting to Our Roots: Mexican Traditional Dance and Music

Free instruction of traditional Oaxacan banda de viento (wind band) music and baile folklórico (Mexican folkloric dance) for Latinx youth and young adults will be offered.

Veretski Pass

Berkeley
Makonovetsky’s Scion

The development of a repertoire of traditional, previously lost, Ukrainian-Jewish music will culminate in a concert program, recording, and workshop.

Voice of Roma

Sebastopol
Pulse of the Mahala: Balkan Romani Drum Choir Project

A set of double-headed tupan/davul drums will be made by percussionist and drum-maker Rumen “Sali” Shopov, which will be used in a series of 10 Balkan Romani workshops and community-based performances.

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