Madera, California, boasts a large Oaxacan community who are largely agricultural workers. The community has recognized that back strap weaving is one of the many traditions of the indigenous communities in Oaxaca, Mexico, that is almost non-existent with the move to California. A natural context of learning to weave from…
The beaded collar is adornment worn by Western Mono women. The collar is made from contemporary glass beads. It consists of a wide choker neckband, with a net-like or lacy draped cape. The drape of the collar extends fully over and around the shoulders covering the upper torso front and…
The Selma Arts Foundation aims to enrich the lives of all people in the southern part of Fresno County by promoting and celebrating the arts in all forms. In 2015, a grant from ACTA’s Living Cultures Grants Program will support the Selma Arts Foundation’s Bhangra…
Tulare County League of Mexican-American Women (TCLMAW) was founded in 1979 by five Tulare County Mexican-American women who were dedicated to educating and increasing the knowledge of women in Tulare County through activities such as conferences, workshops, and community projects. This dedication continues today. The TCLMAW…
Started in 2005, Grupo Folklórico Juan Colorado offers free Mexican folkórico (folk dance) instruction to students of Planada Elementary School in Planada, California. The group is voluntarily taught and directed by committed community member Carolina Arceo. A grant from ACTA’s Living Cultures Grants Program in 2015…
Salvador Ramírez learned how to play the guitar and violin from an aunt in his hometown of San Juan Mixtepec, Oaxaca, Mexico. He has been playing Mixtec (indigenous Oaxacan) chilena music for over twenty years, and is often invited to play at baptisms, weddings, and community festivals throughout Central California.
Proyecto Purépecha was created with the mission to create an extensive and vibrant Purépecha (a native people of Michoacán, Mexico) community in the San Joaquin Valley and California at large. Proyecto Purépecha works to restore and flourish Purépecha food, language, music, and dance in the Mexicano/Michoacano community residing in the San Joaquin…
Fresno-based United Cultures exists to educate, promote, and disseminate the arts, culture, and gastronomy of all the Latino world. Their mission is to create and encourage economic opportunities and new avenues of expression for all Latino art forms. In 2012, ACTA’s Development Program supported United Cultures’ consultancy with CPA Emmett…
The Modesto Cambodian Buddhist Society is a beacon for the Khmer community, preserving the cultural and spiritual heritage of the Cambodian people and supporting sustainable progress for growth and prosperity. With its support, the Cambodian classical dance troupe grew from six beginners to 40 trained dancers.
Filipino American arts, culture, and advocacy
