Mor Taiko Drummers

 The Mor Taiko drummers performed at Wednesday’s press conference for the Sacramento Region Community Foundation in downtown Sacramento. The organization announced it will provide $72,000 in grants to support six community arts organizations, the first part of a $450,000 effort to create experiential arts in the community and to foster increased giving to the arts in the Greater Sacramento region. (Photo by Josh Paul)

The grant recipients provide a range of arts experiences and services to the community, including arts rooted in music, history, and culture, and appealing to audiences spanning all generations. The grants are part of the Foundation’s Advancing Sacramento Arts initiative, which is funded by the James Irvine Foundation.

The grant recipients are as follows:

Asian Cultural Exchange, Meeting state school  history curriculum standards for 4th, 5th, and 8th grades, the Noh Noh Educational Ensemble series will share the Asian American immigrant experience through traditional Asian arts in school settings: taiko drumming, odori dance, noh theater, and origami paper folding. [Grant amount: $7,820]

Camellia Symphony Association, Using the “Instrumental Petting Zoo” as a vehicle, the symphony will introduce classical music to children and families through a fun, hands-on experience.  Children can visit sections of the “instrumental zoo” and touch and play woodwinds, percussion, or brass and talk with the musicians.  A one-hour fast-paced and exciting concert follows which encourages children to get up and move to the music or express themselves. [Grant amount: $12,350]

La Raza Galeria Posada, through vibrant colors and use of natural and man-made materials, “The Hoover Collection of Mexican Masks” will feature the beauty and artistry of traditional masks from the diverse regions of Mexico. Sacramento’s own traditional art collector Larry Hoover with master mask maker Armando Cid will combine forces to share this rich experience of visual art and hands-on mask making workshops with Sacramento’s diverse communities and young people.  [Grant amount: $15,000]

Sacramento Master Singers, Duke Ellington’s “Sacred Concerts” will be performed for the first time in Sacramento.  Combining elements of jazz, classical, choral, spirituals, gospel, blues and dance, this concert will both advance the art and lift the soul.  Working in partnership with Celebration Arts, this experience will include original choreography as well as dramatic readings.   [Grant amount: $14,950]

40 Acres Art Gallery, Amazing Wonders: Quilts by African Americans of the Northern California Region, will bring the private collections of over 30 quilts by artists in the area.  This experience will preserve the cultural craft of quiltmaking and bridge the generational divide with today’s youth by creating a digital photo self-portrait quilt.  Capping the exhibit is an all-day community quilt-making session with community residents. [Grant amount: $15,000.]

Very Special Arts of California, I CAN DO THAT! Community Artshows & Performances unites children with disabilities with art to transform them as creators and consumers of art, develop a life-long appreciation of art, join the community of artists, and be recognized as quality artists. Artists are matched with 60 school sites to produce and to create art performances at schools and throughout the community. [Grant amount: $7,500]

If you would like to find out more about the Sacramento Region Community Foundation or its work to expand philanthropic activity for the betterment of our community, visit www.sacregcf.org

Tags: 40 Acres Art Gallery, Asian Cultural Exchange, Camellia Symphony Association, La Raza Galeria Posada, Mor Taiko drummers, Sacramento Master Singers, Sacramento Region Community Foundation, Very Special Arts of California

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