While NACF has always been headquartered in the Pacific Northwest, our roots in the Oregon community have been expanding through our new national headquarters at the Center for Native Arts and Cultures (the Center) in Portland, Oregon. We’re excited to get to know our neighbors better and are inviting the community in to visit, celebrate, and be a part of our work.
This Summer we launched a new programming series, opening up our home in Southeast Portland for monthly community tours with NACF staff to learn more about our work and vision for the Center. Community tours are free and open to the public, and feature educational opportunities, chances to connect with Native art and storytelling, and other fun all-ages engagement with our community of Native makers, cultural innovators, and more.
We kicked off our Community Tours Series last month with artists Casey Silver and Dimi Macheras (Ahtna) of 80% Studios, whose work is featured in the nationally touring exhibition, Protection: Adaptation and Resistance. Visitors had a chance to experience the exhibition showcasing twenty Indigenous Alaska artists’ responses to the pandemic, climate change and cultural survival through both customary techniques and innovative contemporary approaches. Casey and Dimi did a live storytelling and shared more about the origins and creative process of their recently released graphic novel, Chickaloonies, an all ages Alaskan tribal adventure. From there our NACF team took community members on a tour of our 115-year-old historic building. We’re grateful to Casey and Dimi for sharing more about their work and providing a fun night of entertainment, and we enjoyed being in community with friends and neighbors.
NACF will continue to offer monthly community tours with opportunities to experience Native art and stories and connect with our community of Native artists and culture bearers. Stay tuned for upcoming community tours and be sure to register to reserve your spot.
Our work centers the belief that American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian artists and culture bearers are leading powerful conversations through creative expression, bringing valuable perspective to contemporary life, and inspiring healing across cultural divides. We are excited to expand access to these perspectives through increasing visibility of Native creativity at our new home – the Center.