The NALAC 2012 National Conference Philadelphia

Seizing the Moment NOW, the 8th national conference organized by the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC) will bring Latino artists, arts professionals, scholars, and entrepreneurs to Philadelphia for five days of education, exchange, and networking. The Philadelphia host committee boasts a strong lineup of artistic, business, and philanthropic leaders including leading Latino arts organizations, the City of Philadelphia, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, and local universities. Additionally, NALAC's Executive Director, Maria De Leon, recently appointed by President Obama to the National Council on the Arts, has directly supervised the organization of Seizing the Moment NOW.

NALAC's October 2012 national conference, produced by acclaimed director/producer Dan Guerrero, will open with a welcome from Mayor Nutter, Pennsylvania First Lady Susan Corbett, and Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez. Maria Hinojosa, award-winning broadcast journalist will deliver the keynote address. Distinguished speakers who have been invited to present include United States Secretary of the Interior Kenneth Salazar and Smithsonian Museum Curator Carmen Ramos. Ozomatli, the eclectic nine-member, three-time Grammy-award winning Latin, Hip Hop, and Salsa band from Los Angeles will perform.

The NALAC national conference is an influential platform for Latino arts and cultural exchange that brings together established and aspiring artists and arts professionals in cities chosen for their thriving and diverse Latino populations. Through a series of educational sessions, panel discussions, exhibitions, and performances, participants develop professional skills related to audience cultivation, funding, media engagement, and evaluation. The conference offers opportunities for participants to view the work of top Latino artists and to access those artists and public figures in intimate presentations and at social events.

NALAC advocates for cultural equity through support for artists and community art spaces in marginalized Latino communities because we believe that artistic production shapes cultural identity, inspires civic participation, and can lead to lasting social change. As the United States' demographics continue to shift, it is critically important for the Latino arts and cultural field to receive the artistic and institutional support necessary for full participation in our nation's cultural dialogue.