Alliance for California Traditional Arts

Alliance for California Traditional Arts is dedicated to supporting and sustaining folk and traditional arts throughout the state. Its Living Cultures Grants Program provides small grants to fund exemplary projects in traditional arts. The Apprenticeship Program supports a period of concentrated learning for apprentices who have shown a commitment to and a talent for a specific folk or traditional art form or practice. Through these grant programs, the alliance makes about 90 grants statewide each year. It has supported more than 600 artists and small arts organizations since it awarded its first grants in 2006. This grant to the Alliance for California Traditional Arts supports the Performing Arts Program’s Communities strategy by providing funding to small arts organizations and individual culture bearers through two regranting programs.

The Alliance for California Traditional Arts is the only nonprofit dedicated to supporting and sustaining folk and traditional arts statewide, and serves as the California Arts Council’s official partner in this capacity. Its grants programs support exemplary projects in traditional arts in California, with slightly larger awards for those demonstrating significant impact on a particular cultural tradition. Hewlett Foundation support is designated for performing arts awardees based in the Bay Area, who are selected by Living Cultures Grants Program’s expert peer panel after rigorous outreach and technical assistance by Alliance staff.

Alliance for California Traditional Arts is the only nonprofit in California dedicated to supporting and sustaining the folk and traditional arts at the statewide level, and serves as the California Arts Council’s official partner in this capacity. With three offices (Fresno, San Francisco, Los Angeles) to serve a large statewide constituency, the ability to link staff and board members would improve intra-agency communications and effectiveness. In addition, connectivity would provide opportunities for the larger arts field the Alliance serves to attend meetings, trainings, and presentations via the system.