Creative Work Fund selects Valdez project, to be completed in
2012
Creative Work Fund has awarded a grant to Daniel Valdez, a local
musician, to work with El Teatro Campesino to create, workshop and
premiere
”
Canci
ón De San Juan: Oratorio of a Small Town.
”
The grant will allow Valdez to spend two years using
ethnographic research to develop the musical that will mix
instrumental and choral music, spoken narrative and mixed-media
projections will tell the 300-year story of San Juan Bautista.
Creative Work Fund selects Valdez project, to be completed in 2012
Creative Work Fund has awarded a grant to Daniel Valdez, a local musician, to work with El Teatro Campesino to create, workshop and premiere “Canción De San Juan: Oratorio of a Small Town.”
The grant will allow Valdez to spend two years using ethnographic research to develop the musical that will mix instrumental and choral music, spoken narrative and mixed-media projections will tell the 300-year story of San Juan Bautista.
Valdez plans to incorporate important moments in history for the city, from its time as a Native American village to a Spanish colonial mission establishment, to a Mexican military state capitol, to an American frontier outpost, to an industrial age ghost town, and now to a small, suburban tourist hamlet.
According to a press release from the Creative Work Fund, the piece is intended to premiere in 2012 at the annual El Dia de San Juan, the Saint’s Day festival hosted by El Teatro Campesino.
Valdez, who will be performing at Hollister’s Music in the Park on Aug. 21, started his career by using music to spread the message of the United Farm Workers through songs and narratives. He has worked as a professional theater director, actor, playwright, composer, musician and film producer.
Valdez’ project is one of 17 performing and visual arts selected by the San Francisco-based nonprofit for grants this year. Creative Work Fund gave out $650,000 in grants, ranging from $30,000 to $40,000.
Featured artists are collaborating with local nonprofit community organizations.
“Watching new trends emerge each year in the grant proposals is fascinating,” said Frances Phillips, the CWF director, who has been heading the fund since its establishment in 1994. “For instance, this year a number of projects focused on food, healthy eating and sustainability.”
The applicants selected for grants this year work in such diverse media as digital murals, dance theater, graphic novels, mobile sculpture and more.
Since 1994, CWF has contributed $8 million to advance art making by Northern California artists in a variety of disciplines. Awards range from $10,000 to $40,000. Grants are highly competitive.
