Monday, June 25, 2012

Adelante 2012!


At the Latinos in Theatre lunch gathering during the TCG Conference, Boston 2012, we agreed on the importance of staying in touch in order to support collaboration, share information, strengthen our community, make better art...

Latinos in Theatre, you're invited to post your picture, describe your work, or your goals, your theatre, whatever you’d like to share!  No message is too brief...

Just to get the party started (and because I don't have a photo of our gathering in Boston), above is a photo of the Miracle/Milagro staff, taken at our most recent holiday party, December 2011: Olga Sanchez AD, Miracle MainStage), Dañel Malan (co-founder & AD, Teatro Milagro), José González (co-founder & ED), Daniel Moreno (Prod. Assistant, TM), Estela Robinson (Prod. Manager), Andrew Phoenix (former TD, now on tour with his Wonderheads project), and Tim Krause (Marketing Dir.). Friends, if you're ever in Portland, please visit! We'd love to continue the conversations in person...

What inspires you?

Just as a re-cap, below are ideas that emerged from our lunch conversation (previously posted in Conf 2.0 on 22 June 2012):

Excellent meeting today, w/ intergenerational reps from all over the country, at lunch.
First a celebration of the sustainable longevity of our Latino companies, 20+, 30+, 50 years old ~ very unique in the US and ethnic-id'd field, something to shout about!

Topics:
~ With the growing demographic of Latinos in the country, new interest/support has been generated as at a recent DC meeting with allies in Latino Theatre Commons, a project connected w/ Howlround (Anne Garcia-Romero, David Dower, Tlaloc Rivas, etc.)
~ This support is welcome, but not to forget that the work has been ongoing for decades, with a history of community-based as well as foundation support, and by the dedicated commitment of the artists and leaders who have forged paths and inspired all of us for years.
~ Important for this community/gathering to maintain communication, start one-on-one, share conversations w/ Conf. 2.0
~ What do we want? Connection, collaboration, sense of achievement, better fabric, lift the circle...
~ There's a history of political foundation, this has transformed over time.  In some ways, theatre is itself inherently political ~ a forum of ideas manifested in art. 
~ LATC hosting a 10-play festival, welcomes all to attend!  Recommendation that regional artists be invited to participate in creative process (not just as observers)
~ LATC also strongly contemplating an institute, to providing training.
~ Hip Hop Theatre Fest (NYC) offices open, committed to providing opps.
~ Persistence in following the dream pays off (internship, accountant jobs, sound board op, can eventually lead to positions of greater responsibility/impact)
~ Individual Artists Collective very interested in finding training opportunities as well as mentorships ~ an exchange of contact information is important.
~ Contact list of this meeting's attendees will be published along with relevant websites ~ take a look, let's learn about each other's work ~ and visit when possible!  Individual artists (and all) are encouraged to articulate their creative visions and goals.  Ultimately it's about the art. 
~ We have the resources, we have spaces, we can do this. We are doing this.

We are the future, now. Gracias everyone!