Sacramento Artists in Focus With $2 Million Fellowship Backing

Pachia Lucy Vang, a UC Davis graduate skilled in traditional Hmong textile arts, took advantage of her pandemic isolation to refine her expertise as a textile artist. “My anthropology studies inspired my passion for traditional textiles, revealing their deep spiritual, cultural, and historical significance within Hmong identity,” Vang explained. Recently, Vang received a grant supporting her artistic endeavors, as one of 200 selected Sacramento artists benefiting from an $850 monthly stipend through the City of Sacramento Office of Arts and Culture’s Creative Growth Fellowship. This $2.04 million initiative aims to boost Sacramento's creative sector by directly aiding individual artists. Grant manager Melissa Cirone emphasized the program’s focus on individuals over organizations. The fellowship, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, is designed to enhance community engagement and artistic practice. Vang's work encompasses workshops in paj ntaub, or “flower cloth,” which connect her community, while she experiments with natural dyes sourced in Sacramento, maintaining ties to her heritage.