Grantee Database
Cultural Odyssey
Grant Year
2026-27
Grant Program
Impact Projects
Award Amount
$17,500.00
Project Description
With support from the California Arts Council, IDRIS ACKAMOOR AND CULTURAL ODYSSEY (IACO) will produce an innovative music project, “50 YEARS AND COUNTING”, providing creative opportunities for historically underrepresented African American and multicultural musicians to perform in non-traditional venues (Tenderloin Museum, United Nation’s Plaza, and Bookstore). Performances by the world renowned Idris Ackamoor and The Pyramids, and the Ankhestra Big Band, will be the main outreach and production vehicles. Contracting 15 musicians, “50 YEARS AND COUNTING” will counteract the displacement of jazz musicians by integrating mentorship and workshops into the production process. IACO’s larger mission to “pass the torch” of field knowledge, helps artists survive via its mentorship/education curriculum, “Don’t Drop Dead on Stage.” Therefore, “50 YEARS AND COUNTING” aims to empower artists by addressing income equity through employment, mentoring/education, and hands-on experience in production.
Organization Summary
As the oldest, continuously operating African American performing arts organization in San Francisco, IACO has employed 1000s of arts professionals, contributing to the vitalization and diversity of the local arts industry.
(1) Founded in 1972, Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids Ankhestra (IAPA) implements innovative arts experimentation through live productions and international publications. For example, Black History Month 2024, IAPA performed the UNDERGROUND JAZZ CABARET residency featuring movie star DANNY GLOVER and legendary actress/activist RHODESSA JONES. Sold-out audiences witnessed multidisciplinary arts, woven into historic, imminent social issues as part of SF FOUNDATION’S BAY AREA CREATIVE CHANGE program (Strut Records/iK7 April 2025 release).
(2) Committed to dismantling biases and stereotypes, AFRICAN AMERICAN THEATER ALLIANCE FOR INDEPENDENCE (AATAIN) is IACO’s consortium of SF fiscal sponsorees that work together to increase inclusion of underrepresented artists in the City. In 1998, AATAIN! became a landmark project, pioneering the regranting business model to save Black theater (inspired by August Wilson). This includes Fiscal Sponsorship, Technical Assistance, development resources, and mentoring. Since 2021, AATAIN! collectively activated 17 Cultural Spaces by producing 85 public events, 28 workshops, 51 artworks, 4 exhibitions, and compensating over 100 arts professionals. Distributing $2.4 million, IACO’s highlighted regrantees have included African American Shakespeare, AfroSolo Theatre, Bay Area Theater Company, African American Art & Culture Center, and Medea Project: Theater For Incarcerated Women (an IACO founded company).
(3) “Don’t Drop Dead on Stage” is a new curriculum/workshop series designed to educate artists and arts administrators to establish economic security and long-term sustainability in San Francisco.
(4) Film Production: Based on its historic role in pioneering the Performance Art Theatrical Method, IACO’s tradition of ”Arts as Social Activism” continues in its public awareness films. Examples include: ”This Ain’t Your Mamas Theater Company” (women’s health/incarceration), ”Artistic Being” (imminent politics), and “We Just Telling Stories“ (theater recovery in prisons).
Organization
Cultural Odyssey
Address
762 FULTON ST 3RD FLOOR 301
P.O. Box 156620, San Francisco, CA 94115
SAN FRANCISCO
94102-4119
County
San Francisco
Region
Bay Area – San Francisco
Website
Congressional District
California's 11th congressional district
State Assembly District
District 17
State Senate District
District 11
