SALUD: Healing Through The Arts

“We should lend authority and credibility and provide a stage more often to the young people of our city and world because their voice can be just as holy, strong and maybe even more necessary.” – Director Ricardo Gamboa

Last night I went to the National Museum of Mexican Art for the Salud: Healing through the arts. It’s a wonderful new initiative between the museum, Radio Arte and Teatro Americano.

The purpose of the project is to create dialogue and community about the issues impacting Latinos. From immigration to violence all social concerns that impact the people of these communities. The project worked with youth ranging from different ages for seven weeks. The audience was filled with family’s excited to see their kids on stage. It always excites me to see so much youth participating in the arts. The program gave them an opportunity to work with new people and learn what it takes to put on a production and radio novelas. The hands on training they got I think will open their minds to other possibilities.

As I was sitting in the audience, I couldn’t help but feel thrilled. I caught a glimmer of the next generation of Latinos in theatre slowly emerging. The show is directed by the talented and entertaining Ricardo Gamboa (Definitely one to watch) and Stephen Beaudion (yes, more rising talent). These guys cracked these kids into theatre mode. The radio novelas were facilitated by Jesús Sanchez and Tania Unzuete. They were able to pass on new skills and empower these young people to use the power of radio.

After the radio novellas and theatre performance everyone gathered around the kids. There was such a sense of community, family and creativity. I walked away feeling fabulously hopeful.