May 2024 News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

May 15, 2024

Asian Culture and Media Alliance to Receive $25K Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts

[San Diego, CA] —Asian Culture and Media Alliance (ACMA) is pleased to announce it has been approved by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for a Grants for Arts Projects award of $25K. This grant will support our vocational youth media arts program called TAKE ONE. The NEA will award 1,135 Grants for Arts Projects awards totaling more than $37 million as part of its second round of fiscal year 2024 grants.

“Projects like ACMA’s TAKE ONE exemplify the creativity and care with which communities are telling their stories, creating connection, and responding to challenges and opportunities in their communities—all through the arts,” said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. “So many aspects of our communities, such as cultural vitality, health and wellbeing, infrastructure, and the economy, are advanced and improved through investments in art and design, and the National Endowment for the Arts is committed to ensuring people across the country benefit.”

Cathlyn Choi, Executive Director of ACMA, expressed her gratitude: “This generous grant from the NEA is a testament to the power of storytelling and media arts in shaping our youth’s futures. TAKE ONE trains young storytellers and media creators and empowers them to explore and express the rich narratives of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. We are deeply committed to expanding these opportunities and are grateful for the NEA’s support in helping us do so.”

The TAKE ONE program will commence on the first Saturday of September and extend over 12 weeks. During this time, participants will engage in comprehensive, hands-on training sessions each Saturday, gaining practical skills and insights into the media industry. This schedule is designed to provide an immersive experience without interfering with the participants’ academic commitments, allowing them to benefit fully from expert-led workshops and real-world media production exercises.

About TAKE ONE

Launched in 2016, TAKE ONE is an annual program that provides free vocational, hands-on media training and internship opportunities. The program targets high school and transitional youth in Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. It also includes participants from other underserved groups, regardless of age, gender, race, or abilities, who are interested in learning about AANHPI cultures or pursuing careers in the competitive fields of television and film media.

For more information on other projects included in the NEA’s grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news.

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