Anatolian Arts Institute
Maqam music from Anatolia, Middle East and Beyond (North Africa, Andalusia and India)
The Anatolian Arts Institute promotes understanding and appreciation of diverse Anatolian cultures in the Bay Area and beyond! Our mission is to sponsor, encourage, and celebrate Anatolian Arts and Culture through events, research, and educational activities for local and global audiences. We aim to provide an open space where ideas are exchanged, participation and collaborations of diverse communities are encouraged, and imagination and new possibilities are ignited.
Living Cultures Grant
2024
Berkeley Maqam Festival: CrossRoots and Encounters
Funding will support the Berkeley Maqam Festival: CrossRoots and Encounters, ensuring it can be free for everyone. Maqam music, a centuries-old tradition, weaves a melodic tapestry spanning from Andalusia to India, embodying the rich diversity and historical connections of the Middle East, North Africa, Anatolia, Middle East, Mediterranean and beyond. The Festival is a showcase of this musical heritage, providing a platform to share emotional depth, cultural richness embedded in each maqam. Maqam acts as a bridge furthering understanding and appreciation, creating a shared experience through the language of music. We are expecting to hire 28 artists, 5 food vendors, 3 craft vendors, 5 non-profits and 4 community members for the production of the festival and attract 250 Berkeley residents as audience members. As an organization that serves mostly immigrants/refugees and marginalized communities, accessibility and compensation of artists are our top priorities.
