African Culture Connection Receives Program Grant from Nebraska Arts Council

African Culture Connection (ACC); (http://africancultureconnection.org/) announced in June the receipt of a $13,290 grant from Nebraska Arts Council for the Girls Inc. and Nelson Mandela Elementary School Summer and Fall Residencies and ACC’s Student-Focused Authentic Cultural Experiences with African Culture Connection (ACC). “We are extremely grateful for the funding from Nebraska Arts Council,” said Charles Ahovissi, executive/artistic director of African Culture Connection.

“This funding will support an ongoing partnership with Nelson Mandela Elementary through a summer and fall residency integrating authentic African drumming, dancing, and art into kindergarten through third grade classroom curriculum.”

The $13,290 awarded by the Nebraska Arts Council, through an Arts Project Grant, will support African Culture Connection’s during-school and summer residencies. ACC’s artists—Charles Ahovissi, Sondra McSwain, LaTryce Anderson, Felicia Webster, Deirdre McKinley, Audre Ahovissi, and Kimberly McGreevy—will work with 19 classrooms in eight schools in addition to implementing ACC’s after-school and summer programs at seven sites. The ACC sessions will enable students to build skills in traditional African dancing, drumming, and crafts while building self-esteem, cultural awareness, and an appreciation for diversity.

African Culture Connection is an organization of professional teaching and performing artists using authentic African dance, music, visual arts, and storytelling to encourage students to learn more about the positive contributions African cultures have made to society. Learn more online at www.africancultureconnection.org or follow on social media (@ACCNebraska).