About Us: The Alliance for California Traditional Arts 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.
ACTA Welcomes 21 Master Artist-Apprentice Teams to its Apprenticeship Program
Master Cambodian classical dancer Prumsodun Ok (right) and his sister and apprentice Khannia Ok.
Since 1999, the Alliance for California Traditional Arts' (ACTA's) Apprenticeship Program has supported California's cultural traditions with 206 contracts to outstanding folk and traditional artists. Now entering its eleventh cycle, ACTA's Apprenticeship Program encourages the continuation of the state's living cultural heritage by contracting exemplary master artists to offer intensive training to qualified apprentices. Each contract will support a period of concentrated learning between six to twelve months for individuals who demonstrate commitment to and talent for a specific artistic tradition. Contracts of $3,000 are made with California-based master artists to cover master artist's fees, supplies, and travel. Participants work closely with ACTA staff to develop and document the apprenticeships, culminating in opportunities to publicly share results of the apprenticeship.
The 2011 Apprenticeship Program cohort of 43 artists reflects California's breadth of cultural diversity and intergenerational learning, ranging from septuagenarian master artists to 11-year old apprentices, spanning from Plumas to San Diego Counties. Thriving traditions supported through these apprenticeships reflect indigenous California cultural practices including Miwok and Maidu basketry; distinctly American art forms such as breakdancing and African-American quilting; and art forms which have taken root in the United States hailing from regions such as Cuba, Tibet, Senegal, Scotland, Cambodia, Mexico, Vietnam, Trinidad and Tobago, Armenia, India, and China.
ACTA's Apprenticeship Program is supported by the Fresno Arts Council; the Walter & Elise Haas Fund; The James Irvine Foundation; and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support provided by the California Arts Council, the California Community Foundation, and The San Francisco Foundation. Read more...
ACTA Bids Farewell to Associate Director Sherwood Chen
On December 10, 2010, ACTA will say goodbye to Associate Director Sherwood Chen. Sherwood, who has been with ACTA since November 2006, leaves ACTA to pursue artistic projects in the coming year. ACTA is grateful to Sherwood for his excellent work over the past four years and for his many contributions to the organization and to California's field of folk and traditional arts. Read more...
ACTA Welcomes New Administrative Assistant Kenya Curry
ACTA welcomes new staff member Kenya Curry, who recently joined the staff as a part-time administrative assistant. She is currently a student at the Willow International Center, a campus of the State Center Community College District; she will transfer to Fresno State University next fall, where she plans to major in Criminology. Kenya brings to ACTA over seven years of experience in administrative work, office management and customer service. Most recently, she worked at the Willow International Center where she served as a student aide in student admissions and student activities.
In her job at ACTA, Kenya will be responsible for office mailings, filing, managing office supplies, database entry, and assisting the staff in many different capacities. ACTA is thrilled to welcome Kenya to our team. Kenya will be working in our Fresno office and can be reached at (559) 237-9812.
ACTA Offices Closed for the Holidays
ACTA's offices will be closed from Friday, December 24, 2010, to Friday, December 31, 2010. We will resume normal business hours on Monday, January 3, 2011.
Creative Work Fund Announces New Deadline for Traditional Artists
The Creative Work Fund announces a March 4, 2011 deadline for letters of inquiry for collaborations between traditional artists or literary artists and nonprofit organizations. Grants will range from $10,000-$40,000. To be eligible to apply, collaborating artists must reside and organizations must be based in the following 14 counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, or Stanislaus.
Thank Governor-Elect Jerry Brown for His Support of the Arts
Join ACTA and the Arts in the California Governor's Race campaign in thanking Governor-Elect Jerry Brown for his support of the arts. Not only did Governor-Elect Brown give his victory speech at the Oakland School for the Arts, he also mentioned the importance of creativity! Please take a moment to send an email to thank Jerry Brown for his support of the arts.
ACTA welcomes new staff member Kenya Curry, who recently joined the staff as a part-time administrative assistant. She is currently a student at the Willow International Center, a campus of the State Center Community College District; she will transfer to Fresno State University next fall, where she plans to major in Criminology. Kenya brings to ACTA over seven years of experience in administrative work, office management and customer service. Most recently, she worked at the Willow International Center where she served as a student aide in student admissions and student activities.
The Creative Work Fund announces a March 4, 2011 deadline for letters of inquiry for collaborations between traditional artists or literary artists and nonprofit organizations. Grants will range from $10,000-$40,000. To be eligible to apply, collaborating artists must reside and organizations must be based in the following 14 counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, or Stanislaus.
