HISTORY AND TIMELINE:

HISTORY AND MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS

KULTURA Philippine Folk Arts (Kultura) is a not-for-profit, community-based arts organization established in June 1992 in Glendale to produce Philippine cultural arts programs for all California audiences. One of its main goals is to enhance the general public's appreciation and understanding of Philippine heritage. Throughout its fourteen year existence, KULTURA has maintained an exceptional level of cultural, artistic and organizational achievement and has nurtured an extensive network of member participants, volunteers, audiences and collaborative relationships within the arts community. Over four hundred fifty (450) public and private performances have reached approximately 390,000 individuals in settings ranging from self-produced dance concerts, city and county-wide multicultural arts festivals, educational, religious, civic and community events, fundraiser benefits and contracted private functions and school-based activities.

KULTURA has been recognized for outstanding leadership and cultural contributions by the City of Glendale Arts and Culture Commission, Philippine Arts Council of Pacific Asia Museum, Philippine Consulate General and Department of Tourism, Filipino-American Business Association, Glendale Unified School District, City of Carson, among others. Cultural outreach programs have been funded by the California Community Foundation and multi-year grants from the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.

Some of Kultura's major achievements and track record of successful productions include the following:

• Multiple performances at the Dance Kaleidoscope at John Anson Ford Theater, Family free days at Pacific Asia Museum (10 consecutive years), Fowler Museum at UCLA, Bowers Museum of Cultural Art and Los Angeles County Museum of Art (1993-2003)
• Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (1993-2004)
• Lotus Festival - Echo Park 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999
• Holiday Celebration at Los Angeles Music Center (1994, 1997)
• Eleven (11) self-produced full length dance and music concerts---
  1. Pamasko Sa Bayan (1993) - Matinee performance
     
  2. Pamasko Sa Bayan (1993) - Gala performance
     
  3. Pamana ng Lahi (Legacy of our People 1996); Gala and Matinee
     
  4. Asian Youth Arts Festival (Ford Theater 1995);
     
  5. International Youth Arts Festival (Ford Theater 1996);
     
  6. Trade & Treasure (San Gabriel Civic Auditorium 1997);
     
  7. Alay ng Bayan - Offering to the Nation, Fundraiser for the Philippine Float at the Tournament of Roses Parade ( Glendale Civic Auditorium 1997);
     
  8. Handog-A Gift of Culture (CalState Playhouse 1999);
     
  9. Isang Sulyap (A Glance at Philippine Dance , Glendale Civic Auditorium 2000);
     
  10. Himig Singers World Music Concert (Hall of Liberty 1999, 2000);
      
  11. Philippine Kaleidoscope (San Gabriel Auditorium 2003)
• Florida tour at Epcot Center for Disney's Millennium celebration "Tapestry of Nation" August 1-14, 2000, giving 26 performances in fourteen days
• Presenter of "Philippine Heritage Month" from June 1-30, 2001 at the Alex Theater, historical film at the Glendale Community College, all day cultural performances at Glendale Galleria and West LA College, Children's story-telling at the Glendale Central Library, Visual arts and animation exhibit at Eagle Rock Community Center. Philippine Independence Events (1993-2004),
• Philippine representation at the Los Angeles County Arts Open House of the folkloric tribal epic, "Tagabili" (The Loss of a Lineage of a Tiboli Chieftain) at the CalState Northridge Performing Arts Center on October 5, 2004.
  
• Dancefest for Literacy (Co-presented with FilAm Kiwanis, Glendale Civic Audit, June 2005)
  
• Lunar Parade and Festival (2002-2006),
  
• Family Arts Festival (Cerritos Performing Arts Center 2004, 2005, 2006)
  
• Pasadena Jazz Fest (Rose Bowl, 2000-2006)

KULTURA's audience-base has been multi-cultural and inter-generational. To the Filipino immigrants (1st generation) who have assimilated into mainstream-America, Kultura's performances and activities reach into their memories and touch them in a nostalgic way by reminding them of their rich arts and culture, childhood and native land. To the Filipino-American (born and raised in the US, 2nd and 3rd generation), KULTURA exposes them to their roots, symbols and cultural and family traditions. To the Non-Filipino or Americans of other ethnicity, exposure to KULTURA enables them to better understand and appreciate the heritage of their fellow Filipino workers and friends.

KULTURA's cultural workshops for age 5 and above which is open to non-Filipinos as well, and weekly rehearsals for performing members are held at Community Service Center in Glendale. The group's most recent outreach has been teaching Philippine Dance to multi-ethnic students of Los Angeles County High School for the Arts in the campus of California State University and support to in-campus Philippine Cultural Night (PCN's) presentations at Loyola Marymount University (LMU), and University of California in San Diego (UCSD).