Mission & History

ACTA promotes and supports ways for cultural traditions to thrive now and into the future by providing advocacy, resources, and connections for folk and traditional artists.  Folk and traditional artists are tradition bearers: people who transmit what they believe, know, do and create with others who share a common heritage.  From Ohlone basketry and African-American quilt-making to cowboy poetry and Vietnamese opera, California is home to hundreds of diverse traditions.

Rooted in California’s cultural communities, ACTA is in direct communication with tradition bearers who are often un- or under- recognized by mainstream funders.  ACTA’s programs and services are created, evaluated and evolved as a response to the specific needs of these artists and their communities.  ACTA connects artists, communities, and funders to each other, information, and resources through convenings, research, and technical assistance.  ACTA also provides advocacy through local and national field-building.

ACTA is the only state organization focused on all folk and traditional arts.  Recognized for its culturally competent leadership, intellectual capital, and excellence in program administration, ACTA is the California Arts Council's offical partner in serving the state's folk and traditional arts field.  Dedicated to sustaining and fostering the growth of cultural traditions found within the California’s diverse communities, ACTA ensures that its core values of respect, cultural pluralism, and cultural democracy permeate every aspect of its activity and programming.  ACTA helps people connect to their past and keep traditions a central part of life today and tomorrow. By supporting folk and traditional artists, ACTA supports the health, cultural continuity and diversity of California.

ACTA was founded in 1997 by cultural workers, arts administrators, and traditional artists to address the void in statewide folk & traditional arts leadership.  ACTA incorporated in 2001 and achieved 501(c)(3) status in December 2002.