Qacung Stephen Blanchett is a performing artist, a culture-bearer, art and culture educator, and an advocate for equity and inclusion. Earlier on in his nearly 30-year career in performance art, he realized his passion for teaching the beautiful songs and dances of his culture. He has served in leadership roles with the Alaska Native Heritage Center, First Alaskans Institute, Pamyua Inc., and other arts, culture, and community service entities. He is currently in Cultural Heritage & Education Manager with the Tlingit & Haida Tribes of Alaska in Juneau. He is a 2019 Dance/USA Fellowship recipient, a 2019 and 2016 recipient of the Rasmuson Foundation’s Artist Fellowship, and a 2015 National Artist Fellowship recipient through the Native Arts and Culture Foundation. During the pandemic, Qacung launched Rock Áak’w Indigenous Music Festival, Alaska's first international Indigenous music festival. 

Blanchett is a global citizen whose Yup’ik roots guide his leadership and artistic vision. He is a graduate of the University of Alaska Anchorage with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and Alaska Native Studies. What pointed him in the direction that he chose academically was a passage in a book that he read from the author Vine Deloria, in which he wrote, "Being born Native is like being born into politics." This passage also influenced Blanchett greatly as an artist, because he truly believes that being born Alaska Native, we have a responsibility to fight for our traditions and heritage. So as an artist, he not only has a passion for performing, but he also loves to teach and perpetuate the Alaska Native traditions and to be an advocate for equity and inclusion in the arts and culture industry. To sample some of Qacung’s music please visit www.pamyua.com