(Seaside, CA)

Acts of Reclamation: Artists and Communities in Partnership

Total Award: $200,000 over 2 years

To support Acts of Reclamation, a project that links issues of restoration, innovation and reclamation in four communities that have articulated their struggles for space, cultural rights and the ability to assert their cultural identity. This project focuses on reclaiming multicultural narratives, diverse community histories and supports the sharing of cross-cultural knowledge. Through the use of visual and performing arts these four groups will revitalize blighted environments and animate public gathering spaces. In 2003-2004, CSU completed an oral history project that was the basis for a collection of multi-generational digital life stories; created visual images that were incorporated into I-Movies; developed training programs involving the preservation of indigenous music; and introduced the communities to tradition bearers, artists and specialists who did training in various art disciplines. Over the course of the next two years CSU Monterey Bay will work with the Center for Community Advocacy to improve the living conditions of local farmworkers. Restoration efforts would include the improvement of blighted areas at housing sites such as labor camps, trailer parks and apartments. Innovation would involve the animation of existing public gathering spaces for the performing and visual arts. The University would also work with local people to help them reclaim cultural and artistic practices through an arts education family-based model. The same model will be used with the Watsonville Community School for youth in crisis.

Program Contribution Breakdown:
$200,000 Arts and Culture Program: Objective I, Strategy 1