The Community Folk Art Center (CFAC) has been awarded an $18,200 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to support “Rooted & Rising,” an innovative artist residency program designed to uplift and amplify the voices of artists from the African Diaspora. This prestigious award reflects CFAC’s ongoing commitment to fostering artistic excellence, cultural preservation, community engagement, and educational enrichment throughout Central New York.
Led by Dr. Tanisha Jackson, Executive Director of the Community Folk Art Center and Assistant Professor of African American Studies at Syracuse University, the residency will begin in Summer 2026 and continue through the end of 2027. Over the two-year period, four artists will be selected to participate in the program, receiving dedicated time, space, and institutional support to create new work while engaging meaningfully with students and community members.
Through workshops, exhibitions, artist talks, mentorship opportunities, and free public programming, the residency will create dynamic spaces for dialogue, creativity, and cultural exchange. Participating artists will collaborate with Syracuse University students while also extending their impact beyond campus walls, ensuring that the broader Central New York community has access to transformative arts experiences.
“The Rooted & Rising residency embodies the Community Folk Art Center’s mission to celebrate and advance the artistic traditions, stories, and lived experiences of the African Diaspora,” said Jackson. “By supporting artists and connecting them with students and community members, we are creating opportunities for learning, reflection, healing, and collective growth through the arts.”
The residency program further strengthens CFAC’s role as a bridge between scholarship, artistic practice, and community wellness. By investing in multidisciplinary artists whose work sparks conversation and inspires action, CFAC continues its legacy of serving as a vibrant cultural hub where creativity and community flourish together.
The Community Folk Art Center extends its deepest gratitude to the National Endowment for the Arts for recognizing the importance of this work and investing in artists and communities. We also thank Syracuse University, our dedicated staff, board members, donors, community partners, artists, educators, students, volunteers, and patrons whose ongoing support makes programs like Rooted & Rising possible. We further acknowledge and thank Diane Stirling and Syracuse University Today for helping share this exciting news and amplifying the impact of arts and culture throughout our community in the recent article “2 University Programs Receive National Endowment for the Arts Grants”. Together, we celebrate this milestone and look forward to welcoming artists and community members into this exciting new chapter of creativity, collaboration, and cultural expression.