Background on Association of American Cultures
The Association of American Cultures (TAAC) was founded in 1985, following the success of the first Open Dialogue conference in which cultural workers from an array of arts disciplines gathered to discuss issues confronting arts organizations and artists in communities of color. As a national arts service agency, TAAC advocates for racial equity in the arts and arts organizations and provides support for those concerned with the preservation of their culturally-specific identities through the arts.
As it has evolved, TAAC has maintained a focus on promoting multicultural leadership in arts management, building networks of support, and advocating for a "democratic cultural policy" that reflects the full breath of America's pluralistic society. In addition to their biennial (or triennial) Open Dialogue conferences and regional meetings, they are active in National Advocacy Day and at meetings of the National Endowment for the Arts and other arts service organizations.
