Giving Compass' Take:

• On Americans for the Arts' blog, the leader of the Palante Theater in Massachusetts discusses the importance of Latinx inclusion and how that informed his mission for the company, which features work exclusively by artists of color.

• How can we work harder to make sure that minority voices are heard, not just in the arts but in our communities at large? This story should provide some inspiration.

Here's why diversification in the arts begins with a theory of change.


Growing up we always heard this Spanish proverb, “Querer es poder.” (To want to, is to be able to.) My power lies in celebrating my intersecting identities. To be more specific, the steps which have helped me celebrate my intersecting identities are: making the stories you share relatable; allowing up and coming, young and new artists to showcase their talent; making shows/experiences free or as affordable as possible; and being fearless and unapologetic.

I live in Holyoke, MA. Holyoke has the highest population percentage of Puerto Ricans in the US, at nearly 50%. However, the plays and musicals being produced only showed the stories that related to the white community. Because of this, no one from the Latinx community would attend. This is what spurred my vision for the Palante Theater company. I wanted to bring shows to the community which would highlight the struggle, sacrifices, and similarities that many Latinx individuals, like myself, experience every day. Even the ironic twist of using an all people of color cast can create a new context or conversation on a traditionally oppressive topic, period, or show.

Another idea came from the fact that up and coming artists are the best and brightest when it comes to creating material that is relatable. This is largely because they are on the front lines, experiencing oppression, sadness, joy, untainted love, and a fresh perspective on the issues that affect us daily. Palante Theater started a film festival featuring films which highlight the plight of the issues in Puerto Rico. Films about the financial crisis, and the impact of the hurricane on young girls.

Read the full article about Latinx representation in theater by Nelson Rafael Roman at Americans for the Arts.