Anika Tené

About Anika Tené

Anika Tené (she/her) is a cultural strategist, arts leader, and community builder who designs funding and professional development programs that nourish people—not just their work. As Director of Grants, Awards, and Programs at Creative West, she leads initiatives that center wellness, belonging, and sustainability while strengthening the creative workforce.Anika has developed and guided programs including the Creative West Artist Fund, Alumni Professional Development Fund, Cultural Sustainability Program, Native Arts + Heritage Fund, and the Pacific Jurisdictions Artist Fund—each shaped through care-based design and community collaboration. These initiatives reimagine what artist support can look like when rest, reflection, and resilience are resourced as intentionally as creative output.Her work invests in artists’ long-term growth through mentorship, training, and experimentation, and she has co-designed national efforts such as ArtsHERE and Cultural Sustainability, advancing equity and access in arts funding. She also serves as Executive Director of the Arlington Children’s Chorus, nurturing young voices and cultivating creative confidence in emerging generations.A skilled facilitator and connector, Anika brings clarity, compassion, and cultural fluency to partnerships that amplify expression, healing, and imagination. She is the author of The Oceans We Hold, a lyrical novella exploring memory, healing, and Black womanhood. Across every role, Anika leads with integrity and a deep belief in the power of culture to connect, repair, and transform communities.

Experience

1. Executive Director

   The Arlington Children\'s Chorus

   Jul 2022 — Present · Arlington, VA, US

   I serve as Executive Director of the Arlington Children’s Chorus, leading programs, operations, finance, development, and communications for a regional nonprofit providing choral education to children across the DC and Northern Virginia area. I work closely with artistic leadership and the Board to ensure organizational sustainability, artistic excellence, and access to meaningful music education.The Arlington Children’s Chorus is a Virginia 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing enriching choral music instruction to children in Arlington, Alexandria, Washington, D.C. and other communities throughout the DC and Northern Virginia area. The ACC was founded in May 2010 by Kevin Carr and is led by Artistic Director Caleb McClay. The Arlington Children’s Chorus has performed at the White House, The Kennedy Center, The National Gallery of Art, and the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, and have entertained audiences at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel, The Greenbrier Resort and various national conferences. The ACC has also been featured on PBS’ Top of the Town, WTOP radio, News Channel 8, and Fox 5 News in Washington, D.C, and continues to perform throughout the Washington D.C. metropolitan area.

Education

• Howard University

  Bachelor's Degree, Political Science, International Relations and French

• George Mason University

  Master’s Degree, Arts Management

• Stellenbosch University

  Postgraduate Diploma in Management, HIV/AIDS

• American University

  Master's Degree, Public Anthropology