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Recent Similar Articles

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                         

June 15, 2009            

Contact: Maria De Leon

210-432-3982

info@nalac.org

NALAC Introduces New Transnational Cultural Remittance Grant

Program to Fund Joint Projects in the U.S., Mexico and Central America

San Antonio, Texas –The National Association of Latino Arts and Culture (NALAC) is pleased to announce the introduction of a new competitive grant program, the Transnational Cultural Remittances (TCR) grant, a project of the National Association of Latino Arts and Culture with support from the Ford Foundation.  This new grant program seeks to identify and support exemplary cultural exchange projects that support grassroots artistic and cultural practices and strengthen social networks across national boundaries in transnational communities.  

The TCR initiative, which was developed as an extension of the Ford Foundation’s Transnational Economic Justice Initiative (TEJI), builds on NALAC’s longstanding leadership role in addressing issues of social justice, cultural transmission and economic empowerment through the arts.  The TCR initiative will support the creation and dissemination of new artistic works which directly explore, engage and articulate the complex issues facing transnational communities in the U.S., Mexico and Central America. 

“Remittances have had a tremendous impact on communities and families in Mexico and Central America.  In addition to the economic impact in those parts of the hemisphere, remittances have strengthened the bonds between families and communities in the United States and those regions.  The TCR grant program builds on those connections and bonds and supports the flow of ideas and cultures between artists and arts organizations in the United States and Mexico and Central America that can only strengthen communities and families throughout the hemisphere,” said Abel Lopez, NALAC Board Chair.

"NALAC looks forward to supporting the transnational community through the Transnational Cultural Remittances program and we thank the Ford Foundation for their commitment to engage the complex issues facing communities across the world.  The TCR program will support the creation and dissemination of new artistic works that explore, engage and articulate the complex issues facing linked transnational communities in the designated regions. NALAC seeks to support artistic co-production, cultural preservation and economic empowerment for marginalized communities in this distinct region,” explains Maria De Leon, NALAC Executive Director.

One and two year grants will be available for projects that link two or more of the following countries: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, and United States.  Projects demonstrating an ongoing connection between communities in two or more target countries will be eligible for consideration to receive a TCR grant in 2009 and/or 2010; grants of $2,000 to $20,000 will be awarded.

The Ford Foundation/NALAC Partnership started in 2005 with major support for NALAC’s Fund for the Arts program, which provides financial resources to strengthen Latino arts organizations and to support exemplary emerging and established Latino artists in the creation of their work.

Celebrating its 20^th Anniversary in 2009, the National Association of Latino Arts and Culture (NALAC) is the nation’s only national Latino arts service organization. Through its core programs, which include the NALAC Fund for the Arts, the annual NALAC Leadership Institute, the annual Regional Arts Training Workshops and the NALAC National Conference, NALAC builds strong leadership networks and strengthens thousands of Latino artists and cultural organizations across the United States in such areas as fundraising, programming, audience development, community involvement and mentoring new leaders.

The Ford Foundation is an independent, nonprofit grant-making organization.  For more than half a century it has worked with courageous people on the frontlines of social change worldwide, guided by its mission to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation, and advance human achievement.  With headquarters in New York, the foundation has offices in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

For more information, please email tcrgrantmanager@nalac.org or visit www.nalac.org.

The National Association of Latino Arts and Culture (NALAC) is dedicated to the preservation, development and promotion of the cultural and artistic expressions of the diverse Latino populations of the United States.  Through this effort, NALAC is committed to continuing struggle for the elimination of racism, sexism, ageism and discrimination against gay, lesbian and physically challenged populations.  The objective is to recognize and support the varied standards of excellence grounded in the aesthetics and traditions of our root cultures.