Northwest Folklife 2019

8 COMMUNITY-POWERED For the People, By the People Central to the values of Northwest Folklife is for communities to have voice and agency in the representation of their cultural expressions. More than 125 Community Coordinators, including prominent artists, educators, culture bearers and leaders throughout the region, work closely with Northwest Folklife throughout the year to co-create and co-curate programs including the Northwest Folklife Festival, as well as the annual Cultural Focus and Our Big Neighborhood youth and family program. These relationships are an integral part of our mission and vision. “As the lifeblood of all Northwest Folklife programs, our relationships with Community Coordinators are the heart and soul of the organization,” says Northwest Folklife Executive Artistic Director, Kelli Faryar. Catch Adrian and the Ballet Folklórico Showcase, sponsored by El Rey 1360 AM, on Sunday from 3 PM – 5 PM in the Bagley Wright Theatre. Photos by Christopher Nelson As Northwest Folklife looks ahead to celebrate its 50th Anniversary in 2021, the stories and traditions of the region serve as the foundation and significance behind our organization. Join in preserving, supporting, and cultivating our community’s cultural endowment through Cultural Focus: Living Legacies . We’ll be creating a Living Legacies Toolkit to document and capture your family’s heritage and stories in tandem with our organization as we build a retrospective for our 50th anniversary and legacy for generations to come. For more information, visit nwfolklife.org/ LivingLegacies. NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE OUR VISION Strengthening our communities through arts & culture. OUR MISSION Northwest Folklife creates opportunities for all to celebrate, share, and participate in the evolving cultural traditions of the Pacific Northwest. WHO WE ARE Since 1972, Northwest Folklife has been deeply committed to celebrating the diversity of our Northwest communities and demystifying our differences together, under one roof. Our work centers on preserving cultural arts, bridging connections to heritage and identity, and cultivating the ever-evolving traditions of the Pacific Northwest. From daily creativity and imagination to family and community customs, Folklife is a part of each of our lives - past, present, and future. Northwest Folklife believes that arts and culture strengthen our communities and should be accessible for all. Our year-round programming is produced in collaboration with over 125 different Community Coordinators and powered by contributions from the community, corporations, foundations, and the public sector. 2020 CULTURAL FOCUS “ Being a Community Coordinator for Northwest Folklife means a lot to me because it gives me an opportunity to make a connection between regional Mexican folk groups and Folklife. It gives every artist involved the opportunity to meet each other and share a stage, but most importantly, we get to build new relationships. I have been performing with Folklife with Bailadores de Bronce for about 22 years and, as a performer, it is something we always look forward to. Now, I have been able to share experiences and introduce new organizations to the Folklife family. ” Community Coordinator Adrian Olivas, Mexican Folklórico Community, Executive Director of Bailadores de Bronce, Alum Cultural Focus Member of Echoes of Aztlán and Beyond. Turn to page 19 to see a full list of our Community Coordinators and visit nwfolklife.org/programs to learn more about all of Northwest Folklife programs. Interested in becoming a Community Coordinator? Reach out to programming@nwfolklife.org. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @nwfolklife!