Grantee Database Results

With support from the California Arts Council, Movement Liberation will co-create and offer accessible, BIPOC-centered community workshop(s) combining dance, mindful movement, and other expressive arts that can be documented and then shared with the broader public to inspire and uplift BIPOC strength, beauty, and healing.

Movement Liberation offers dance programs aligned with our 4 strategic pillars:
– Offer safe & healing movement workshops & retreats for BIPOC
– Uplift BIPOC facilitators by exclusively hiring BIPOC facilitators for our workshops & retreats, promoting their work in the world, and compensating them fairly for their time
– Promote a culture of equity & redistribution of wealth & labor toward BIPOC-led justice initiatives as a form of reparations
– Develop a blueprint and create a next culture for liberation of People of Color (and all people) thru intentional shifts away from the practice of white supremacy culture in all aspects of programming and operations

Movement Liberation offers workshops & retreats held in a container for healing and growth. Here, adults with diverse movement experience, ages, genders, body types, and abilities all become dancers. They improvise & introduce their movement signatures into the room. This range of expression invites all to stretch out of their comfort zones & explore new ways of moving, resting, breathing and dreaming together. The practice of liberation inside these dance spaces transforms the life and leadership of each individual beyond these spaces – at home, at work, in the community – creating a ripple effect of inspiration and empowerment across communities.

Anchored by a theme, the energy in the room, and the needs of the participants, facilitators guide dancers through an exploration of different movement patterns, relational landscapes, & embodied points-of-view. They may invite dancers to pause, pay attention to breath patterns, use peripheral vision, witness each other, be witnessed (a growth edge for some), explore boundaries, release – no two experiences are ever the same. Employing trauma-informed facilitation, they encourage participants to take up space, stand in their dignity, and move relationally. Within this space, there is immense potential for original movement, trauma release, and somatic repatterning.

With support from the California Arts Council, Movement Liberation will provide much needed financial support to continue offering healing dance workshops and retreats for people of color. This grant will pay BIPOC staff (e.g., Executive Director, website development, Accessibility Consultant) at a fair market rate consistent with ML’s mission.

Movement Liberation offers dance programs aligned with our 4 strategic pillars:
– Offer safe & healing movement workshops & retreats for BIPOC
– Uplift BIPOC facilitators by exclusively hiring BIPOC facilitators for our workshops & retreats, promoting their work in the world, and compensating them fairly for their time
– Promote a culture of equity & redistribution of wealth & labor toward BIPOC-led justice initiatives as a form of reparations
– Develop a blueprint and create a next culture for liberation of People of Color (and all people) thru intentional shifts away from the practice of white supremacy culture in all aspects of programming and operations

Movement Liberation offers workshops & retreats held in a container for healing and growth. Here, adults with diverse movement experience, ages, genders, body types, and abilities all become dancers. They improvise & introduce their movement signatures into the room. This range of expression invites all to stretch out of their comfort zones & explore new ways of moving, resting, breathing and dreaming together. The practice of liberation inside these dance spaces transforms the life and leadership of each individual beyond these spaces – at home, at work, in the community – creating a ripple effect of inspiration and empowerment across communities.

Anchored by a theme, the energy in the room, and the needs of the participants, facilitators guide dancers through an exploration of different movement patterns, relational landscapes, & embodied points-of-view. They may invite dancers to pause, pay attention to breath patterns, use peripheral vision, witness each other, be witnessed (a growth edge for some), explore boundaries, release – no two experiences are ever the same. Employing trauma-informed facilitation, they encourage participants to take up space, stand in their dignity, and move relationally. Within this space, there is immense potential for original movement, trauma release, and somatic repatterning.

With support from the California Arts Council, Movement Liberation will be able to continue offering unique healing dance workshops and retreats for our Black, Indigenous, and People of Color community that have exponential impact in the community, are facilitated by trauma-informed BIPOC artists, and are accessible to all bodies and minds.

This grant will go towards paying BIPOC staff (e.g., Executive Director, Assistant, Accessibility Coordinator) at a fair market rate consistent with ML’s mission, helping to sustain a financially vulnerable organization with a proven record of providing transformative healing experiences through the arts to the Bay Area BIPOC community.

Movement Liberation offers dance programs aligned with our 4 strategic pillars:
– Offer safe & healing movement workshops & retreats for BIPOC
– Uplift BIPOC facilitators by exclusively hiring BIPOC facilitators for our workshops & retreats, promoting their work in the world, and compensating them fairly for their time
– Promote a culture of equity & redistribution of wealth & labor toward BIPOC-led justice initiatives as a form of reparations
– Develop a blueprint and create a next culture for liberation of People of Color (and all people) thru intentional shifts away from the practice of white supremacy culture in all aspects of programming and operations

Movement Liberation offers workshops & retreats held in a container for healing and growth. Here, adults with diverse movement experience, ages, genders, body types, and abilities all become dancers. They improvise & introduce their movement signatures into the room. This range of expression invites all to stretch out of their comfort zones & explore new ways of moving, resting, breathing and dreaming together. The practice of liberation inside these dance spaces transforms the life and leadership of each individual beyond these spaces – at home, at work, in the community – creating a ripple effect of inspiration and empowerment across communities.

Anchored by a theme, the energy in the room, and the needs of the participants, facilitators guide dancers through an exploration of different movement patterns, relational landscapes, & embodied points-of-view. They may invite dancers to pause, pay attention to breath patterns, use peripheral vision, witness each other, be witnessed (a growth edge for some), explore boundaries, release – no two experiences are ever the same. Employing trauma-informed facilitation, they encourage participants to take up space, stand in their dignity, and move relationally. Within this space, there is immense potential for original movement, trauma release, and somatic repatterning.

With support from the California Arts Council, Movement Liberation will co-create and offer accessible, BIPOC-centered community workshop(s) combining dance, mindful movement, and other expressive arts to inspire and uplift BIPOC strength, beauty, and healing.

Movement Liberation offers dance programs aligned with our 4 strategic pillars:
– Offer safe & healing movement workshops & retreats for BIPOC
– Uplift BIPOC facilitators by exclusively hiring BIPOC facilitators for our workshops & retreats, promoting their work in the world, and compensating them fairly for their time
– Promote a culture of equity & redistribution of wealth & labor toward BIPOC-led justice initiatives as a form of reparations
– Develop a blueprint and create a next culture for liberation of People of Color (and all people) thru intentional shifts away from the practice of white supremacy culture in all aspects of programming and operations

Movement Liberation offers workshops & retreats held in a container for healing and growth. Here, adults with diverse movement experience, ages, genders, body types, and abilities all become dancers. They improvise & introduce their movement signatures into the room. This range of expression invites all to stretch out of their comfort zones & explore new ways of moving, resting, breathing and dreaming together. The practice of liberation inside these dance spaces transforms the life and leadership of each individual beyond these spaces – at home, at work, in the community – creating a ripple effect of inspiration and empowerment across communities.

Anchored by a theme, the energy in the room, and the needs of the participants, facilitators guide dancers through an exploration of different movement patterns, relational landscapes, & embodied points-of-view. They may invite dancers to pause, pay attention to breath patterns, use peripheral vision, witness each other, be witnessed (a growth edge for some), explore boundaries, release – no two experiences are ever the same. Employing trauma-informed facilitation, they encourage participants to take up space, stand in their dignity, and move relationally. Within this space, there is immense potential for original movement, trauma release, and somatic repatterning.

With support from the California Arts Council, Barangay Arts and Cultural Movement (BACM) will continue their work in educating, promoting, and preserving Philippine arts and cultural folkways in the San Diego region. BACM organizes free programs to thousands of locals, serving as a platform for established and emerging Filipina and Filipino artists in contemporary and traditional Philippine arts. BACM engages, educates, and empowers locals to embrace the depth of Philippine arts and folkways.

Barangay Movement (BM) is an expansion of the annual Filipino American Arts and Culture Festival of San Diego, better known as FilAmFest. Since 2004, FilAmFest has been the largest production representing Philippine cultures and arts in the San Diego region. In 2017, organizing members of FilAmFest formed Barangay Movement in an effort to build on the success of FilAmFest. Currently, we plan to have quarterly programs in addition to our largest production of FilAmFest held every October, every year. Our events comprise a blend of some of the folkways we look to, such as visual art, dance, live music, among others. Our smaller events are held in partnership with the San Diego Public Library in the Paradise Hills and Skyline communities; neighboring areas that have large numbers of Filipino families and regions that have also traditionally been considered working class and underserved. Both FilAmFest and our satellite programs are free of admission to the public and serves all ages. Barangay movement has continued promoting local Filipina and Filipino artists and those from elsewhere through social media platforms and live performance media.

With support from the California Arts Council, B. Dunn Movement/Dance and Theatre Company will seek to produce It’s Not About Pretty project. This is a collaborative performance presentation by three diverse female choreographers. Our work ignites authentic conversation from diverse members of our community to engage in honest and unapologetic expression.

BDM/DTC has toured nationally and within the greater Los Angeles area. Previous engagements have included performances, master classes, workshops and lecture/demonstrations for individuals of all ages, connections to engage with local communities through dance, music and multiple art forms. Programs include special performances, lecture-demonstrations, technique classes and curriculum-based residencies for K-12, college/universities and the general public throughout the year.

With support from the California Arts Council, Pacific Arts Movement will continue to empower high school students to learn about the art of documentary film making through the Reel Voices Monarch program. In 2014, our Reel Voices summer program was extended to the Monarch School, which serves students impacted by homelessness in San Diego, to develop a year round media arts curriculum that gives the opportunity to express themselves, have a successful experience, and develop valuable skills.

Pacific Arts Movement (Pac Arts) is one of the largest media arts organizations in North America, specializing in Asian American and Asian international cinema. Our flagship event, the San Diego Asian Film Festival, has emerged as a leading showcase for Asian cinema in North America and a significant platform for Asian American media. This festival serves as a celebration of the diversity and breadth of the Asian and Pacific Islander diaspora, featuring everything from passionate independent voices and thought-provoking documentaries to major hits from Asia and work from cinema masters. In addition to the film festival, we operate Reel Voices, a program that has been empowering local high school students to master the art of documentary filmmaking since 2005. This program includes a comprehensive 10-week summer class and a year-round partnership with Monarch School. Through Reel Voices, we inspire and equip the next generation of storytellers, teaching them technical skills like video editing software and guiding them through all stages of production. The ultimate goal is to create socially-conscious storytellers who can authentically represent their experiences and perspectives, aligning with our mission to amplify underrepresented voices and reduce barriers to entry into the media arts.

With support from the California Arts Council, Pacific Arts Movement will produce its 19th San Diego Asian Film Festival (SDAFF) from November 8-17, 2018. This is one of the leading showcases of Asian and Asian American cinema in North America and one of the biggest platforms of Asian American media anywhere. Our 10 day festival showcases more than 140 films from over a dozen countries, reaching an audience of over 15,000, while bringing in over 50 filmmakers from around the world.

Pacific Arts Movement (Pac Arts) is one of the largest media arts organizations in North America, specializing in Asian American and Asian international cinema. Our flagship event, the San Diego Asian Film Festival, has emerged as a leading showcase for Asian cinema in North America and a significant platform for Asian American media. This festival serves as a celebration of the diversity and breadth of the Asian and Pacific Islander diaspora, featuring everything from passionate independent voices and thought-provoking documentaries to major hits from Asia and work from cinema masters. In addition to the film festival, we operate Reel Voices, a program that has been empowering local high school students to master the art of documentary filmmaking since 2005. This program includes a comprehensive 10-week summer class and a year-round partnership with Monarch School. Through Reel Voices, we inspire and equip the next generation of storytellers, teaching them technical skills like video editing software and guiding them through all stages of production. The ultimate goal is to create socially-conscious storytellers who can authentically represent their experiences and perspectives, aligning with our mission to amplify underrepresented voices and reduce barriers to entry into the media arts.

With support from the California Arts Council, Pacific Arts Movement will continue to empower high school students to learn about the art of documentary film-making through the Reel Voices Monarch program. In 2014, our Reel Voices summer program was extended to the Monarch School, which serves students impacted by homelessness in San Diego, as a Spring class. Since then, the program has grown to offer year-round media arts curriculum to the entire high school population.

Pacific Arts Movement (Pac Arts) is one of the largest media arts organizations in North America, specializing in Asian American and Asian international cinema. Our flagship event, the San Diego Asian Film Festival, has emerged as a leading showcase for Asian cinema in North America and a significant platform for Asian American media. This festival serves as a celebration of the diversity and breadth of the Asian and Pacific Islander diaspora, featuring everything from passionate independent voices and thought-provoking documentaries to major hits from Asia and work from cinema masters. In addition to the film festival, we operate Reel Voices, a program that has been empowering local high school students to master the art of documentary filmmaking since 2005. This program includes a comprehensive 10-week summer class and a year-round partnership with Monarch School. Through Reel Voices, we inspire and equip the next generation of storytellers, teaching them technical skills like video editing software and guiding them through all stages of production. The ultimate goal is to create socially-conscious storytellers who can authentically represent their experiences and perspectives, aligning with our mission to amplify underrepresented voices and reduce barriers to entry into the media arts.

With support from the California Arts Council, PACIFIC ARTS MOVEMENT will produce its 20th San Diego Asian Film Festival (SDAFF) from November 7-16, 2019. This is one of the leading showcases of Asian and Asian American cinema in North America and one of the biggest platforms of Asian American media anywhere. The 10 day festival showcases over 150 films from more than 20 countries, reaching an audience of over 15,000. Over 100 filmmaker/industry guests typically attend from around the world.

Pacific Arts Movement (Pac Arts) is one of the largest media arts organizations in North America, specializing in Asian American and Asian international cinema. Our flagship event, the San Diego Asian Film Festival, has emerged as a leading showcase for Asian cinema in North America and a significant platform for Asian American media. This festival serves as a celebration of the diversity and breadth of the Asian and Pacific Islander diaspora, featuring everything from passionate independent voices and thought-provoking documentaries to major hits from Asia and work from cinema masters. In addition to the film festival, we operate Reel Voices, a program that has been empowering local high school students to master the art of documentary filmmaking since 2005. This program includes a comprehensive 10-week summer class and a year-round partnership with Monarch School. Through Reel Voices, we inspire and equip the next generation of storytellers, teaching them technical skills like video editing software and guiding them through all stages of production. The ultimate goal is to create socially-conscious storytellers who can authentically represent their experiences and perspectives, aligning with our mission to amplify underrepresented voices and reduce barriers to entry into the media arts.

With support from the California Arts Council, The Wooden Floor for Youth Movement will implement its 5th annual Co-Creation Lab that engages low-income students, ages 8-18, in Master Classes of modern dance and composition to co-create new dance works with choreographers shaping the genre of modern dance. Funds will support the residency of guest artist Stephan Koplowitz, an award-winning, California-based director, choreographer and educator known for his pioneering site-specific choreography.

TWF’s holistic model serves economically disadvantaged students year-round, afterschool, free of charge. Our long-term approach grounded in exploratory Dance Education and performance fosters confidence and gifts within each child to innovate, communicate, and collaborate – skills necessary for the 21st century workforce. Academic, College and Career Readiness programs ensure that our students have fundamental academic and life skills to access and succeed in higher education. Our Family Services take a case management approach to counseling, crisis intervention, workshops and social service referrals to help families overcome socioeconomic hardships and foster a family context in which our young people can thrive. These core programs comprise our creative youth development model and copyrighted Theory of Change.

With support from the California Arts Council, PACIFIC ARTS MOVEMENT will produce its 21st San Diego Asian Film Festival (SDAFF) in November 2020. This is one of the leading showcases of Asian and Asian American cinema in North America and one of the biggest platforms of Asian American media anywhere. The 10 day festival showcased over 170 films representing 29 countries and 40 languages, reaching an audience of over 15,000. Over 100 filmmaker/industry guests attend from around the world.

Pacific Arts Movement (Pac Arts) is one of the largest media arts organizations in North America, specializing in Asian American and Asian international cinema. Our flagship event, the San Diego Asian Film Festival, has emerged as a leading showcase for Asian cinema in North America and a significant platform for Asian American media. This festival serves as a celebration of the diversity and breadth of the Asian and Pacific Islander diaspora, featuring everything from passionate independent voices and thought-provoking documentaries to major hits from Asia and work from cinema masters. In addition to the film festival, we operate Reel Voices, a program that has been empowering local high school students to master the art of documentary filmmaking since 2005. This program includes a comprehensive 10-week summer class and a year-round partnership with Monarch School. Through Reel Voices, we inspire and equip the next generation of storytellers, teaching them technical skills like video editing software and guiding them through all stages of production. The ultimate goal is to create socially-conscious storytellers who can authentically represent their experiences and perspectives, aligning with our mission to amplify underrepresented voices and reduce barriers to entry into the media arts.

With support from the California Arts Council, Pacific Arts Movement will continue to empower high school students to learn about the art of documentary film-making through the Reel Voices Monarch program. In 2014, our Reel Voices summer program was extended to the Monarch School, which serves students impacted by homelessness in San Diego, as a Spring class. Since then, the program has grown to offer year-round media arts curriculum to the entire high school population.

Pacific Arts Movement (Pac Arts) is one of the largest media arts organizations in North America, specializing in Asian American and Asian international cinema. Our flagship event, the San Diego Asian Film Festival, has emerged as a leading showcase for Asian cinema in North America and a significant platform for Asian American media. This festival serves as a celebration of the diversity and breadth of the Asian and Pacific Islander diaspora, featuring everything from passionate independent voices and thought-provoking documentaries to major hits from Asia and work from cinema masters. In addition to the film festival, we operate Reel Voices, a program that has been empowering local high school students to master the art of documentary filmmaking since 2005. This program includes a comprehensive 10-week summer class and a year-round partnership with Monarch School. Through Reel Voices, we inspire and equip the next generation of storytellers, teaching them technical skills like video editing software and guiding them through all stages of production. The ultimate goal is to create socially-conscious storytellers who can authentically represent their experiences and perspectives, aligning with our mission to amplify underrepresented voices and reduce barriers to entry into the media arts.

With support from the California Arts Council, B.Dunn Movement will be able to pay company members equitable rates, including providing a modest salary to the Artistic Director and Music Director. This support will also allow B.Dunn Movement to expand free program offerings for the community, including workshops and curriculum development.

BDM/DTC has toured nationally and within the greater Los Angeles area. Previous engagements have included performances, master classes, workshops and lecture/demonstrations for individuals of all ages, connections to engage with local communities through dance, music and multiple art forms. Programs include special performances, lecture-demonstrations, technique classes and curriculum-based residencies for K-12, college/universities and the general public throughout the year.

With support from CAC, Theatre Movement Bazaar will sustain its mission to be an influential theatre company developing theatre rooted in physical action and inspiring the hearts and minds of culturally curious communities in LA and around the globe with entertaining and provocative original productions and educational opportunities.

Creation and presentation of live theatrical events for the public. Public workshops in theatre training.

With support from the California Arts Council, PACIFIC ARTS MOVEMENT will continue producing annual programs that amplify the voices of Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander communities such as the San Diego Asian Film Festival, Reel Voices, and local community-focused events that highlight the diversity of San Diego through storytelling.

Pacific Arts Movement (Pac Arts) is one of the largest media arts organizations in North America, specializing in Asian American and Asian international cinema. Our flagship event, the San Diego Asian Film Festival, has emerged as a leading showcase for Asian cinema in North America and a significant platform for Asian American media. This festival serves as a celebration of the diversity and breadth of the Asian and Pacific Islander diaspora, featuring everything from passionate independent voices and thought-provoking documentaries to major hits from Asia and work from cinema masters. In addition to the film festival, we operate Reel Voices, a program that has been empowering local high school students to master the art of documentary filmmaking since 2005. This program includes a comprehensive 10-week summer class and a year-round partnership with Monarch School. Through Reel Voices, we inspire and equip the next generation of storytellers, teaching them technical skills like video editing software and guiding them through all stages of production. The ultimate goal is to create socially-conscious storytellers who can authentically represent their experiences and perspectives, aligning with our mission to amplify underrepresented voices and reduce barriers to entry into the media arts.

With support from the California Arts Council, The Black Arts Movement Business District Community Development Corporation of Oakland (BAMBD, CDC) will continue outreach and community education around the City of Oakland Cultural Plan and build a base for activism amongst artists in Oakland.

Our organizational values are based on five pillars: housing, commerce, arts & culture, vital human services, and (an) access to research and data publicly accessible via an online cultural archive.

Since 2016, we’ve successfully negotiated with developers to provide low income housing in market rate developments, provided technical assistance to artists and small businesses, and provided grants directly to organizations and artists engaged in direct service to marginalized communities. An impact of those negotiations is a seat at the table for artists and cultural anchors at the redeveloped Henry J Kaiser Auditorium and the Calvin Simmons theater, in a bold experiment in community having a voice in the disposition of public land by the City. In this way, we engage investors, funders, and municipal officials in conversations about the essential nature of art and culture in the public square as a cornerstone of thriving communities.

For the past several years we’ve co-produced BAMBDFEST; a multi-day festival in celebration of the BAMBD and Black arts, culture, and economics in Oakland. The Festival consists of performances by theater artists, musicians, dancers, comics, poets, youth groups and town legends, and features an eclectic mix of free and paid arts events, gallery installations, ways to support virtual vendors, virtual public symposiums, and more that showcase the best of Oakland’s vibrant artistry. The festival engages Oakland artists, businesses, and the public in a massive celebration of Oakland. By bringing local art and artists into conversation with culture makers throughout the Diaspora, the festival strengthens the relationship between artists and small businesses in its amplification of both by creating local interest and foot & web traffic. This festival makes up over half of the programs of this organization with the remainder being grounded in Arts Advocacy and Art based advocacy.

With support from the California Arts Council, BEMOVING will invite 4 local dance artists to participate in its 2025 GHOST LIGHT RESIDENCY (GLR) and host a showcase of alumni artist-residents that includes live performance, interviews, and screenings.

GLR is a program devoted to granting LA dance artists from marginalized communities time, space, and resources to invest in their artistic voice and the development of their professional practice.

The program awards each artist a week-long residency inside of an LA theater where they receive access to the theater’s lighting and sound systems, a $1,000 honorarium, and high-quality audiovisual documentation. GLR artists are encouraged to present research or completed work at a free public event that invites members of the community to meet the artists through an informal showing and Q&A.

EDUCATION

BEMOVING offers high-quality, financially accessible workshops for professional dancers and dance enthusiasts. Every week, we host donation-based contemporary dance classes, serving a community of more than 200 regular attendees. Our teaching artists work with leading dance organizations in the US and abroad such as The Juilliard School, USC’s Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, CalArts, Jacob’s Pillow, Nederlands Dans Theater, Batsheva Dance Company, and The Forsythe Company. Most importantly, in 2023 alone BEMOVING offered $15,000 worth of scholarships to attendees from marginalized communities with a priority to local, regional, and state-wide applicants.

Invited teaching artists have included prominent Los Angeles dancers such as Jermaine Spivey, Spenser Theberge, Bobbi Jene Smith, Nina Flagg, Jillian Meyers, Julia Eichten, Karen Chuang, and Austin Tyson.

PRODUCTIONS

Since 2018, BEMOVING has produced 13 new works that have been viewed by more than 10,000 people and presented throughout North America, Europe, and the Middle East. Notable productions include LA native Kevin Zambrano’s HOUSE OF RED, a 60-minute outdoor dance-theater work that explores queer nightlife, and Austin Tyson’s dance film, LONG DISTANCE, a send-off to Japanese artist Itaru Sasaki’s “wind phone” installation, which asks visitors to have conversations with lost loved ones. In 2024, BEMOVING will be partnering with Whim W’Him, Culture Lab, b12, and Backhaus Dance to premiere new works.

RESIDENCIES

BEMOVING hosts an annual residency program that enables dance artists from historically marginalized groups opportunities to further their craft and receive hands-on professional development.

Since 2021, BEMOVING has invited dance and movement artists to participate in its GHOST LIGHT RESIDENCY, which has hosted 10 residents to date. All residents receive a week-long residency inside of an LA theater, collaboration with the theater’s technical department, photo and video documentation, an opportunity to publicly present their practice and work, and a $1,000 honorarium.

With support from the California Arts Council, Pacific Arts Movement will strengthen its Reel Voices program, an eight-week documentary filmmaking course for high school students from historically underserved communities. CAC funds will support student stipends and expanded outreach to low-income schools and neighborhoods, ensuring access, mentorship, and public storytelling opportunities that foster cultural pride, healing, and civic engagement.

Pacific Arts Movement (Pac Arts) is one of the largest media arts organizations in North America, specializing in Asian American and Asian international cinema. Our flagship event, the San Diego Asian Film Festival, has emerged as a leading showcase for Asian cinema in North America and a significant platform for Asian American media. This festival serves as a celebration of the diversity and breadth of the Asian and Pacific Islander diaspora, featuring everything from passionate independent voices and thought-provoking documentaries to major hits from Asia and work from cinema masters. In addition to the film festival, we operate Reel Voices, a program that has been empowering local high school students to master the art of documentary filmmaking since 2005. This program includes a comprehensive 10-week summer class and a year-round partnership with Monarch School. Through Reel Voices, we inspire and equip the next generation of storytellers, teaching them technical skills like video editing software and guiding them through all stages of production. The ultimate goal is to create socially-conscious storytellers who can authentically represent their experiences and perspectives, aligning with our mission to amplify underrepresented voices and reduce barriers to entry into the media arts.

With support from the California Arts Council, Pacific Arts Movement will sustain its organizational infrastructure to continue delivering year-round public programming that centers Asian, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander stories. CAC support will help maintain staff roles essential to producing accessible cultural experiences like the San Diego Asian Film Festival, Spring Showcase, Cinemathek, and youth education programs, ensuring equitable access to media arts across San Diego.

Pacific Arts Movement (Pac Arts) is one of the largest media arts organizations in North America, specializing in Asian American and Asian international cinema. Our flagship event, the San Diego Asian Film Festival, has emerged as a leading showcase for Asian cinema in North America and a significant platform for Asian American media. This festival serves as a celebration of the diversity and breadth of the Asian and Pacific Islander diaspora, featuring everything from passionate independent voices and thought-provoking documentaries to major hits from Asia and work from cinema masters. In addition to the film festival, we operate Reel Voices, a program that has been empowering local high school students to master the art of documentary filmmaking since 2005. This program includes a comprehensive 10-week summer class and a year-round partnership with Monarch School. Through Reel Voices, we inspire and equip the next generation of storytellers, teaching them technical skills like video editing software and guiding them through all stages of production. The ultimate goal is to create socially-conscious storytellers who can authentically represent their experiences and perspectives, aligning with our mission to amplify underrepresented voices and reduce barriers to entry into the media arts.