WE EMPOWER A DYNAMIC CULTURAL ARTFORM
Taiko is the Japanese word for “drum,” referring to a variety of traditional and modern art forms using wadaiko, traditional Japanese drums.
The Taiko Community Alliance (TCA) is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization formed in 2013 with a mission to empower the people and advance the art of taiko. TCA seeks to strengthen the network of taiko practitioners in North America, to share traditions and repertoire, to document the history of taiko, and to support the artistic development of the art form.
1980 Memberships (All Time)
470 Current Year Members
79 Lifetime Members
4 Taiko Conferences with over 2,000 total attendees
North American Taiko Conference (2015 Las Vegas, 2017 San Diego, 2019 Portland)
North American Taiko Conference, Regional (2023 Hilo)
The North American Taiko Conference was previously administered by the Japanese American Culture and Community Center prior to the TCA’s incorporation.
Over 50 grants administered by the TCA
$125,000 given to taiko groups and artists since 2017
$20,500 COVID Relief Funding to support professional taiko artists
Grants and Awards Received
California Arts Council State and Regional Networks Grant (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
National Endowment of the Arts American Rescue Plan Funds (2023)
Cal Humanities, Center for Cultural Innovation, Creative Works, Takahashi Foundation, Seattle Foundation
Taiko has been a presence in North America for over 50 years. Early pioneers were active in the Asian American civil rights movement of the 60’s and 70’s. The North American “taiko community” can trace its roots directly to TCA's biennial North American Taiko Conference (NATC). Many new ideas and relationships are born when taiko groups get together.
TCA helps the taiko community continue grow through its outreach and ever-expanding programming. A recent addition to our lineup are regional taiko conferences in areas we have not been able to directly serve. In 2023, TCA launched its first regional taiko conference (NATC-R). NATC-R was in Hilo, HI with over 250 attendees! We look forward to supporting more communities in the future.
Our Impact
Since 2013, the Taiko Community Alliance has served the taiko community with a mission to empower the people and advance the art of taiko. Here are a few of the impacts the TCA has made:
Over $100k in direct funding to support artist and project-based taiko grants.
Expanding our programming reach to serve artists on four continents.
Cultivating a network of over 4,500 artists through our news, programs, & social media.
Providing over 200 paid work opportunities for artists.