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SPECIAL PROJECTS BY THE ARHOOLIE FOUNDATION

Here are some of the Arhoolie Foundation's most recent projects.

Raza, Accordions, and Rock!

Raza, Accordions, & Rock is monthly show hosted on the Dublab website and to spotlight the many untold stories hidden within the grooves of the Strachwitz Frontera Collection.

Raza, Accordions, and Rock!

Rumbo a California

Rumbo a California (https://rumboacalifornia.org) is a multimedia online exhibition that explores the Mexican American experience in California as documented on commercial recordings going back to the early 1920s. Featured  media...

Rumbo a California

Frontera Collection ¡En Vivo!

Hear classic recordings and hidden gems from the Frontera Collection on this new YouTube radio show. Tune into the show on YouTube, and check this page to find playlists, selected images, recording dates, and resource links.

Frontera Collection ¡En Vivo!

Presenting: Working From Home

“Working from Home,” features intimate mini house concerts recorded live by traditional musicians around the country trying to make it through this current public health crisis doing what they do best.

Presenting: Working From Home

Frontera YouTube Channel

Listen to over 41,000 recordings from 78rpm & 45 rpm records on the Frontera Collection on our YouTube Channel. Since April of 2018 we have uploaded 99 songs every work...

Frontera YouTube Channel

Barbara Dane Documentary Film

https://vimeo.com/815467705 The Arhoolie Foundation is proud to sponsor the production of the new documentary film The 9 Lives of Barbara Dane on the life and music of Barbara Dane. Donate...

Barbara Dane Documentary Film

THE ARHOOLIE FOUNDATION IS SUPPORTED BY MANY INDIVIDUAL SPONSORS AND:

Dear friends, 

We’re thrilled to announce that the Arhoolie Foundation and Les Blank Films are joining together to purchase our longtime home at 10341 San Pablo Avenue in El Cerrito. 

The decision to buy the building comes after several months of thoughtful consideration and a strong response from our community. It has become clear to us that continuing our work in the place where Chris Strachwitz originally conceived it is the best way forward for the organization. Staying in our longtime home preserves an important part of Arhoolie’s cultural legacy, prevents the disruption that moving would cause, and—most importantly—opens up possibilities for closer collaboration with Les Blank Films, Down Home Music, and our local East Bay community.

Now comes the hard part. While we are under contract to buy the building, we need to raise $2.4 million to meet the purchase price by April 15. Here are two ways you can donate to our cause:

  • The GoFundMe page for the capital campaign
    (donations to this fund are shared by all three of the tenants).

  • Direct tax-deductible donations/securities to either of the two non-profits who are buying the building:
    Contact Harrod Blank at Les Blank Films https://lesblank.com/contact/;
    or Adam Machado at Arhoolie Foundation, adam@arhoolie.org.

As we begin this capital campaign, we will continue our normal operations in the building while forging a closer institutional bond with Les Blank Films and taking modest, collaborative steps to bring more public programming into Down Home Music. We plan to revive Les Blank and Chris’ tradition of in-store film screenings and will host more informal, free performances and gatherings in the store as part of our outreach work. We believe this collaboration will result in a vibrant community gathering place dedicated to music, film, and deep roots culture. 

We’re grateful for your support. We look forward to updating you on our progress in the coming weeks and months.