Post a Comment        E-mail To A Friend        Join The List

National Association Of Latino Arts And Culture Training Workshop Comes To Athens

by Lindley Curtis
04/03/2008

The National Association of Latino Arts and Culture will be hosting its 20th Regional Arts Training Workshop April 4-5, 2008, in Athens.

Founded in 1989, the group’s mission is to preserve, develop and promote the cultural and artistic expressions of Latinos throughout the United States. The workshop will be held at the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education Conference Center and Hotel. The theme will be “Creative Responders: Latino Art in Action Re-Affirming and Transforming the Future.”

Currently the group serves more than 700 Latino organizations and artists. Its offerings include a grant program, a Leadership Institute, regional and national meetings, technical assistance programs, publications and advocacy efforts to promote Latino art.

The workshop is a two-day seminar that aims to create and expand networks for Latino artists and Latino arts and cultural organizations. It provides people the opportunity to learn organizational business skills and strategic planning, research and grant writing, and discuss cultural policies.

Athens and Atlanta both placed a bid to hold the Regional Arts Training Workshop, Valerie Aranda, a board member of the National Association of Latino Arts and Culture, said. Aranda is also a professor of art at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville and an artist.

“We expect somewhere between 75 and 100 people to attend,” Aranda said. “We felt that we could make a great impact in Athens and try to connect Athens, Atlanta, and the Middle Georgia area. We want to show off the Athens arts community.”

National arts experts and local arts professionals will attend seminars from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. on April 4-5. The Regional Arts Training Workshop includes discussion topics and presentations on leadership development, establishing relationships with funders, marketing your work with new audiences, cultural facilities development, and spreading Latino art and culture in the classroom. The event will include special lunches, art displays and evening performances.

“There are resources for artists that we are trying to share and present, whether it is on a local, regional or national level,” Aranda said. “Another feature that we are presenting is community-based arts, to connect communities that are in need to communities with resources. We feel that art is a tool to connect people.”

The workshop is free for members and $10 for non-members. For more information about the workshop registration or becoming a member, visit the organization’s website.