CONGO SQUARE: THE ADVOCATING PLATFORM FOR CULTURAL ARTS

On Sunday, March 24th, 2019 DRUM the Program will host it’s 3rd Annual Congo Square ATX Festival. Our performing lineup will bring to audiences’ cultural heritage from Colombia, Liberia, Cuba, Guinea, Caribbean, Brazil and the United States. With such an amazing lineup of artistic talent the question is “why aren’t cultural arts programs accessible to more communities?” The other question is “where is the funding stream” to assure that such valuable experiences remain financially viable and accessible to the public? The answer to these questions is not just for me to simply respond, but the goal of Congo Square ATX is for you the audience member, you the cultural arts philanthropist, you the corporate donor, and you the community member to walk away from this event and begin advocating for cultural arts programming as essential components of your community and our Society.

The responsibility of assuring the continued lineage of diverse cultures is all our duties. Each of us arrive at the table of society with our own exceptional cultural identities. We each come with family traditions, spiritual beliefs, rituals, and many other components of culture that work together to give us our unique individuality. When we deny someone of their ability to own and practice their cultural traditions, we are denying them their human beingness. Historically it has been this type of human denial that has allowed for human atrocities to take place throughout history. We become complacent and accepting of acts of violence against other human beings when cultural differences are demonized and criminalized. What are we teaching our younger generations about how to love and accept each other as human beings? The answer belongs to each of us: to be proactive in creating the world in which we want to live in and the world that we will leave upon our death.

Congo Square ATX is a Cultural Arts Showcase. We bring to the stage community cultural arts providers and their student performers. We create a space for the youth that are engaged in learning rich folkloric traditions of music, dance, martial arts, and song writing for the sole purpose of giving them their moment in the Sun. For a child experiencing performing at Congo Square grants them is a huge affirmation that positively reinforces their dedication to continue engaging in their learning process.

Research findings speak to the advantage of the access to art as beneficial to developmental progression. Art stimulates the expansion of neuropathways, builds hand eye coordination, stimulates creativity, teaches discipline, and interrupts the amount of time that youth spend with their handheld electronic devices, such as phones and tablets. Art is an asset to development, but cultural arts programs are the lifeline to understanding our individual uniqueness. The outcome of cultural arts experiences delivers self-confidence and courage, provides community, informs cultural diversity understanding, and hold space for the world to continue as a blend of cultures.

So, “why aren’t cultural arts programs accessible to all communities?” And “where is the funding stream?” These questions plaque myself and other cultural arts providers. We know of the value that we bring to the developmental process of our youth. We know that we provide essential art experiences. But often these programs are not accessible to all youth populations. This is often due to a lack of State or local funding for building a Cultural Arts platform and or a lack of expendable family income to attend a program.

My call to action for you is to support the success of Congo Square ATX. Contribute and support the financial demand of this event that is only partially funded by the City of Austin Cultural Arts Division. Come to Congo Square ATX and experience the magic of what this event offers. Walk away from our event and walk into a community cultural arts class or workshop. Embrace for yourself the magic of the folkloric arts and answer the questions through a visceral experience that will give you the courage to advocate for Cultural Arts Programming as essential tools within your own community serving to enhance Society.