 President Obama taps Maria López De León for
National Council on the ArtsPresident Barack Obama has nominated Maria López De Leon, Executive Director for the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC), to become a member of the National Council on the Arts. Read the announcement. The National Council on the Arts advises the chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, who also chairs the council, on agency policies and programs. The 14-member council reviews and makes recommendations to the chair on applications for grants, funding guidelines and leadership initiatives. Presidential appointments to the council, by law, are selected for their widely recognized knowledge of the arts or their expertise or profound interest in the arts. They have records of distinguished service or achieved eminence in the arts and are appointed so as to represent equitably all geographical areas of the country. Pending confirmation by the Senate, De León will serve a six-year term on the council. NALAC Board Chairperson, Charles Rice-Gonzalez, said of the nomination, “We are overjoyed at this announcement which is a testament to the powerful trailblazing that Maria López De León has done for the Latino arts field and for NALAC. This proud moment for our community is an achievement we can all celebrate and signals a significant shift forward for Latino art and cultures.” Ms. De León has been affiliated with NALAC for thirteen years and has served as Executive Director for ten years. Under Ms. De Leon’s leadership, NALAC launched the Fund for the Arts, a grant program for Latino artists and organizations, completed production of a documentary series on Latino art and culture for PBS, and developed a grant program for cultural exchanges between the US, Mexico, and Central America. Ms. De León is an advisory council member of San Anto Cultural Arts, Women of Color in the Arts, and is a fellow of the Rockwood Leadership Institute. She has directed the continued development of eleven editions of the renowned annual Leadership Institute and the Latino Arts Advocacy Institute in Washington, DC; directed the convening of five national arts and cultural conferences and dozens of regional arts training workshops across the country. Under Ms. De Leon’s leadership, NALAC completed production of Visiones, a six part documentary series on Latino art and culture for PBS and development of accompanying education curriculum distributed to over 35,000 schools. She is leading the efforts to renovate a historic site in San Antonio to serve as NALAC’s national offices and home to a national arts leadership training institute. Ms. De León has over twenty years of multifaceted experience in grass roots community and working with community based organizations across the country. She has served on multiple arts and culture policy panels across the country. Ms. De León is currently a fellow of the Rockwood Leadership Institute and completed the Wallace Foundation Leadership in Excellence and Arts Participation (LEAP) program. She studied Journalism at the University of Texas at El Paso. October 17-21, 2012Philadelphia, PA
Introducing Maria Hinojosa as Keynote Speaker for the NALAC National Conference
The National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures is proud to welcome Maria Hinojosa as keynote speaker for 2012 NALAC National Conference in Philadelphia: “Seizing the Moment Now”.
For 25 years, Maria Hinojosa has helped tell America’s untold stories and brought to light unsung heroes in America and abroad. In April 2010, Hinojosa launched The Futuro Media Group with the mission to produce multi-platform, community-based journalism that respects and celebrates the cultural richness of the American Experience. She is the first Latina to anchor a Frontline report. “Lost in Detention” about deportation and immigration detention aired in October 2011 and sparked public engagement and conversation from Capitol Hill to mainstream media to the Spanish language media. Hinojosa interviewed dozens of notable Latinos for Timothy Greenfield-Sanders’ "The Latino List" which premiered on HBO in October 2011.
The NALAC National Conference is the only national convening of the Latino arts and culture field. This is it. Seizing the Moment Now in Philadelphia. This October begins a new opportunity for critical professional training, leadership, networking, and national exposure for Latino artists and arts professionals across the country.
 
The National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC) will host its 12th Annual Leadership Institute July 16-21, 2012 on the campus of Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas. The NALAC Leadership Institute brings together emerging and established artists and arts administrators of community-based arts and cultural organizations from across the nation for intensive training in nonprofit arts management and leadership development.
Recipients of the 2011-2012 NALAC Fund for the Arts and Transnational Cultural Remittances Program will be announced during the month of April 2012.
Guidelines for the NALAC Fund for the Arts and the Transnational Cultural Remittances Programs will become available in May 2012.
NALAC Fund For The Arts (NFA)
Launched in 2005 by the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures with major support from the Ford Foundation, the NALAC Fund for the Arts provides financial resources to strengthen Latino arts organizations and to support Latino artists in the creation of their work. NALAC Fund for the Arts (NFA)
Transnational Cultural Remittances Program (TCR)
The Transnational Cultural Remittances (TCR) is an initiative of the Ford Foundation in collaboration with NALAC that is designed to strengthen the exchange of art and culture between communities linked by people’s migration from one country to another. Transnational Cultural Remittances (TCR)
NALAC Announces Adriana Gallego as Deputy Director  The National Association of Latino Arts & Cultures (NALAC) announces the hiring of Adriana Gallego as NALAC’s new Deputy Director. Gallego’s hiring follows the addition of nationally recognized writer and digital media creator, TJ Gonzales as NALAC’s Marketing and Outreach Associate. Also, Maria Tapia was brought on as the Executive Assistant to Executive Director Maria De Leon. “I am pleased that Adriana will be joining NALAC as Deputy Director. She comes to NALAC with multiple years of experience at the Arizona Arts Commission developing grants programs and providing professional development services. Adriana is an alumnus of the NALAC Leadership Institute and has been involved with NALAC over many years. I am also pleased with the other new additions to the NALAC staff, TJ Gonzales and Maria Tapia. We will continue to strengthen NALAC’s infrastructure over the coming months with additional staff to allow us the capacity to address the challenges facing the Latino arts community and the larger arts industry.” During her tenure as Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Arizona Commission on the Arts, Gallego developed programs, grants, partnerships and services in support of arts organizations, artists, universities/schools, community groups and government agencies She served on many advisory boards and committees including the Transportation Enhancement Review Committee, the Asset Building for Artists of Color Advisory Board, the Flagstaff Cultural Partners Arts Advisory Board and the Arizona Public Art Network. As a painter, Gallego's artwork is forged from ideals about equality and understanding rooted in the Civil Rights and Feminist movements, with sensibilities born out of her upbringing alongside the United States-Mexico border. She received the Border-Ford Bi-national Painting Award and has completed several mural commissions in Arizona and California. Commenting on her selection as NALAC’s Deputy Director, Gallego said, "In my experience, NALAC's guiding principles are not only inspiring, but they are transformative in practice. I very much look forward to contributing to this trajectory in the service of cultivating a vibrant, diverse Latino arts and culture sector." The addition of Gallego, Gonzales and Tapia in their respective positions comes as NALAC prepares for the 2012 National Conference to be held in Philadelphia, PA from October 17th to October 21st.
NALAC Seeks to Widen Latino Involvement in the National Endowment for the ArtsNALAC and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) will begin to work together to employ strategies to increase NEA funding for Latino organizations. NALAC is focused on specific strategies to increase the number of Latino organization applications submitted and to increase the percentage of applications that are supported. In 2011, the NEA received 4,450 organization applications. Of those, only 96 of the applications received were from Latino organizations. Of the 96 Latino organization applications received, 46 were supported with NEA funding.
NALAC is also advocating for the following:
Increased representation of Latinos on the National Council on the Arts (NCA) Increased number of Latino panelists on all NEA peer review panels Increased NEA outreach and technical assistance to Latino organizations Increased number of Latinos in NEA senior administrative positions NALAC has submitted a list of national leaders for consideration to serve on the National Council on the Arts. This list has been sent to the administration of President Barack Obama, members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Congressional Arts Committee and Rocco Landesman, the NEA Chairman. Mr. Landesman will also advocate for increased diversity on the NCA. Currently, there is one Latino serving on the Council, Miguel Campaneria a choreographer and dance school director with the HARTT school, at the University of Hartford. Formerly, he was artistic director to the R.M.T. Academie de Danse in Haiti. He was appointed Artistic Director of the Balleteatro Nacional de Puerto Rico in 2005. Previously, he served as artistic director of the Ballet Municipal de San Juan. Born in Cuba, Campaneria trained at the National Ballet School of Cuba with Alicia Alonso and was promoted to soloist with the National Ballet of Cuba at the age of 18.
NALAC has also submitted a list of nominees to serve on national NEA peer review panels . If you would like to recommend yourself or someone else to serve on these panels , download the pdfs here of the Panelist Profile Form and the instructions then submit the completed form to the National Endowment for the Arts ; Office of Panel Operations; Nancy Hanks Center ; 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW ; Washington, DC 20506-0001.
NALAC Hosts National Conversation and Town Hall in Chicago
The NALAC National Conversations continued with a roundtable and Town Hall focused on Organizational Development in Chicago December 5th. Both were facilitated by Chicago-area entrepreneur, Roberto Carmona of the Crimson Leadership Group. The day’s conversation was attended by leaders from across the country facing the task of building organizations in a modern environment. The topics ranged from the evolution of established organizations and new technology, changing populations of the United States and the broader role Latinos have in shaping arts and cultural organizations.
The participants for the Chicago National Conversation were
Roberto Bedoya, Executive Director of the Tucson Pima Arts Council
Octavio Campos, Artistic Director of Camposition in Miami
Dee Campos, Program Assistant of enFoco, Inc. in New York
Arnaldo Cruz, Executive Director of the Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center in Chicago
Carmen Febo San Miguel, Executive Director of Taller Puertorriqueno in Philadelphia
Patty Ortiz, Executive Director of Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center in San Antonio
Lucas Rivera , Executive Director of AMLA in Philadelphia
Frank Rodriguez, Managing Director of MexicArte Museum in Austin
The Chicago National Conversation on Organizational Development is the second in the series. Writer, Carolina Gonzalez, who also attended the conversation, will write the three white papers based on the National Conversations and the town halls.
The next, and final, National Conversation will take place January 23rd in Miami, Fl. The topic will be Leadership. The daylong conversation is followed by the open public town hall.
NALAC Latino Arts Advocacy Institute Finishes in Washington D.C.
Latino Arts Advocacy Institute Fellows completed a two day training and advocacy effort on Wednesday Nov. 2 in Washington D.C. During their work in the nation’s capitol, the seven fellows selected from the NALAC Leadership Institute Alumni, met with members of Congress and the White House Office of Public Engagement. The NALAC Arts Advocacy Institute pairs selected fellows with Congressional Staff and Experienced Arts advocates to equip the fellows with the techniques and information needed to further arts advocacy funding and policy.
Among the notable meetings scheduled for the 2011 Arts Advocacy Fellows were National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Rocco Landesman, Julie Rodriguez of the Latino Outreach division of the White House Office of Public Engagement, NEA Chairperson for States, Regions and Local Arts Agencies Patrice Powell, Eduardo Diaz of the Smithsonian Institute, Narric Rome of Americans for the Arts and Eric Rodriguez of the National Council of the La Raza. The 2011 Arts Advocacy Fellows then met with Rep. Jose Serrano (NY-16th) as a group and met individually with Rep. Jim Moran (VA-8th), Rep. Charlie Gonzalez (TX-20th), Rep. Linda Sanchez (CA-39th), Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30th), Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34th) and Rep. Sam Farr (CA-17th).
This year’s Arts Advocacy Institute Fellows are: Francisco Aragon, Director of Letras Latinas; Eduardo Chavez of the San Antonio Museum of Art; Jorge Fiffe, Managing Director of Kin Aesthetic Media; Ana Herrera, Executive Director of the Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico; Lorena Moran, the Associate Artistic Director of the Cornerstone Theater Company; Cristine Ordonez, the Account Manager for AIM Truancy; Katie Ventura, the president of Rainbow Theatre.
This year’s Institute Faculty were Abel Lopez of the Gala Theatre in Washington D.C. and Rosalba Rolon, the Artistic Director of Pregones Theatre in Bronx, NY and Maria De Leon, Executive Director of NALAC.
Philadelphia Welcomes the Announcement of the NALAC National Conference 2012"Seizing The Moment Now"
In Philadelphia Wednesday October 26th, Mayor Michael A. Nutter welcomed the 2012 NALAC National Conference. The pressevent was attended by members of the Philadelphia Host Committee, local dignitaries and several print and television outlets. The National Conference will be held October 17th to the 21st at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel. Conference registration will begin early in 2012.
NALAC Honored at the 17th Annual Multicultural Action Congress Awards Luncheon in Philadelphia NALAC and the Philadelphia 2012 National Conference Host Committee were honored with the Bringing It Home Award at the 17th Annual Multicultural Action Congress on Thursday October 27th in PHiladelphia. The award was acctepted by Veronica Castillo-Perez of Raices Culturales Latinoamericanas, Lucas Rivera of Artistas y Musicos Lantinoamericanos and Maria Lopez de Leon of NALAC. The Bringing It Home Award reflected the achievement of landing the 2012 NALAC National Conference and the estimated $1.1 million dollar economic impact for the city of Philadelphia.
NALAC Invited to Participate in White House Forum on American Latino HeritageNALAC's Executive Director, will take part in The White House Forum on American Latino Heritage. Maria Lopez de Leon will attend the event on October 12th as part of the panel on Celebrating the Contributions of American Latino Heritage in Arts and Culture. The panel takes place after a luncheon address by President Barack Obama reflecting on the lengthy and important history of Latinos in the United States. “It is an honor for NALAC to be invited by the White House to participate in this conversation recognizing the achievements and contributions of Latino artists and cultural leaders. It is a unique opportunity to inform our political leaders of the resources the Latino arts community needs to continue our legacy of contribution to the story of the United States.,” said NALAC Executive Director, Maria Lopez de Leon. The White House Forum on American Latino Heritage is a day long event and part of the National Park Service’s sesquicentennial remembrance of the Civil War. Panel discussions include: Recognizing the Contributions of American Latinos in the American Economy and Honoring the Contributions of American Latinos from the Revolutionary War to Iraq and Afghanistan. Other distinguished panelists and speakers include: Dolores Huerta, Secretary of the Interior Kenneth Salazar, Major General Angela Salinas, Dr. Estevan Rael-Galvez, Ray Suarez, Senator Robert Menendez and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
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