The Wishtoyo Foundation is a Native American organization that utilizes traditional Chumash cultural values and practices to foster environmental awareness.  The Chumash people lived for centuries along the California coast between Malibu and San Luis Obispo and the Channel Islands, depending on the natural world…
Mutiple genres of traditional Mexican music rely on the sounds of stringed instruments, from mariachi’s guitarróns, vihuelas, and guitars, to son jarocho’s jaranas.  The quality of music produced is a direct result of the quality of craftsmanship that went into the creation of the instrument, including the mastering of necessary…
West African Dance is the cultural, social, spiritual, and moral expression of African people.  It is how values are expressedfor various life events including birth (naming ceremonies), growth and maturity (rites of passage), love and family (marriage rituals), social events, and death.  African dance holds these traditions that are near…
For the past decade, MESTO (Multi-Ethnic Star Orchestra) has engaged the Arabic community in Southern California by providing high-quality concerts, live events, and educational programs.  MESTO combines the melodies and rhythms of the Middle East within a Western symphonic setting, creating a unique blnd of these musical traditions.  MESTO accomplishes…
The mission of Zhena Folk Chorus is to perpetuate the tradition of choral music and culture of Eastern Europe and beyond, to heighten awareness of this beautiful and vigorous heritage, and to signify the primary role of women in preserving these important genres of world music.  Based in San Pedro,…
West African Traditional Djembe and Dunun
Ginga Arts is a nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles that emowers underserved and at-risk youth by offering ongoing classes featuring the traditional Afro-Brazilian martial art of capoeira.  Ginga Arts uses capoeria — part martial arts, part dance, part percussion, and part game — as an…
Inglewood Cultural Arts (ICA) strives to enhance the quality of life of Inglewood residents through their diverse programs which include individuals of all ages, ethnicities and economic status.  These programs serve to meet the need of: raising people’s awareness of the arts, both as an essential…
L.A. Samba Kids, a culturally rich, after-school arts education program founded on the Brazilian Carnival traditions of music, dance, and visual arts, serves urban, under-resourced middle and high school students in South Los Angeles.  Offering a curriculum in traditional music, dance, and visual and media arts from the Latin Americas,…
In 2013, Comunidad Tlacolulence en Los Angeles (COTLA) received funding from ACTA’s Living Cultures Grants Program for two observances of this Oaxacan indigenous community.  The Mayordormia Tlacolulence, celebrated elaborately with pageantry and symbolism on particular saints’ days, will take place in October in West Los Angeles.