The Folk & Traditional Arts
Mentorship Initiative

In 2004-2005, The Folk &Traditional Arts Mentorship Initiative, supported by the Walter and Elise Haas Fund, provided support to stimulate and deepen participation in diverse artistic traditions by artists who reflect the values and shared sense of beauty of their respective cultural communities.  It also provided support to folk and traditional arts organizations to develop new skills and capacity, creating a stronger infrastructure for the folk and traditional arts.

The primary goal of the program was to build community engagement in the Bay area’s cultural communities through small grants to non-profit organizations ranging between $5,000–$10,000 for folk and traditional artistic and organizational mentorships.  Through various artistic mentorship models participants deepened understanding and fostered appreciation inside and between cultural communities, while organizational mentorships served to develop and strengthen folk and traditional arts organizations.

The types of projects funded by the Folk & Traditional Arts Mentorship Initiative are now being funded by ACTA’s Living Cultures Grants Program.

Folk & Traditional Arts Mentorship Initiative Grantees