Lincoln Arts receive $12,000 from Indian community

By Julie Foster - Lincoln News Messenger
12:16 PM PST

Help in the form of a $12,000 grant will help the Lincoln Arts and Culture Foundation continue its free concert series this summer.

"I have not started picking the acts yet, but the process will start in January and there will be five concerts in the series," said Claudia Renati, executive director of Lincoln Arts.

Last year, Lincoln residents were treated to Ballet Folklorico, Aisan drummers and dancers and Proud Foot - a local Celtic band.

Lincoln Arts was awarded the grant by the 235-member United Auburn Indian Community, a federally recognized organization. The organization is made up of Maidu and Miwok Indians, as well as one Pomo Indian. Many of the tribe members live in Lincoln and surrounding areas.

An act of Congress restored tribal recognition in 1994 and allowed the tribe to select an area in Placer County for a reservation since collectively the community only owned 2.8 acres. The site they chose is where they built Thunder Valley Casino.

The grant received by Lincoln Arts was from the Community Giving Program, a philanthropic branch of the tribal government.

According to a United Auburn Indian Community press release, "The Community Giving Program, a philanthropic branch of tribal government established by the Community in March 2004, will provide up to $1 million annually to nonprofit organizations supporting needs in education, health, arts and humanities, environment, community development and social services."

These funds will also help fill in the gap created by recent budget cuts in arts programs in schools.

"I want to reinitiate after-school art programs for (students in) sixth grade and older through art and English departments in the school," Renati said.

She specifically mentioned wanting to restart the illustrated poetry program.

"This is not the first time our good neighbors have assisted Lincoln Arts, and we are very grateful for all that they have done," Renati said of the United Auburn Indian Community.

Currently, no after-school programs are being offered at Lincoln Arts. But the organization is seeking teachers in drawing, painting and ceramic arts for the 2005 after-school classes. Interested parties should contact Lincoln Arts at 645-9713 for more information. Classes will begin as son as contracts can be negotiated with qualified instructors.