History
The Cultural Coalition, Inc. began as a grass roots organization of artists and community activists in the summer of 1997 to develop new and innovative ways to address important social issues while encouraging the participation of organizations, schools and individuals to collaborate in the creation of neighborhood arts programs.
Past Projects: Cultural Coalition, Inc. has been successful in creating & producing 6 annual anti-violence marches and cultural festivals, La Procesión, based on the theme of the Day of the Dead celebrations in downtown Phoenix since 1997. We have also been the producing agent and presentors of La Pastorela from 1999- 2001 and 2004-08, as well as Que Pasion! in 2003 and DeGrazia: the Impossible Eccentric at the Kerr Cultural Center in May 2005. Our projects engage various community and sponsoring partners.
In the Fall of 2008 we presented La Calaca Cabaret at the Herberger Theater, which showcased many local artists and their interpretations of Dia de Los Muertos on stage: music, dance, storytelling and theater. The presentation was well attended and the audience expressed their interest in more performances on this theme.
Festivals & Events:
La Procesión – A Dia de Los Muertos Festival, took place in downtown Phoenix during the first Saturday of November 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003 and 2004. It involved diverse groups of youth from inner city schools (Carl Hayden High School, César Chávez School, Genesis Academy & Phoenix College), churches (St. Anthony’s) and community organizations (Garfield Youth Organization, the Alwun House, The Mexican Cultural Center, Latino Institute and Museo Chicano), who have come together to address important social issues such as violence during a traditional cultural holiday. Participants (approximately 2000 yearly) attended workshops and created altars and memorials that were utilized in the subsequent march and celebration at the Patriot’s Square.
The concept of “La Procesión” is unique and unprecedented in the contemporary expression of Dia de Los Muertos. La Procesión encourages local artists, both professional and aspiring, to collaborate with community groups and to mobilize together to take their work to the streets in a public display of their creativity, expression and deep concern for the victims of violence.
La Calaca Café – an innovative fundraising event that has brought diverse groups of people to celebrate Dia de Los Muertos in a Café setting while viewing local and national acts, such as Daniel Valdez and Stella Pope Duarte. Artists, musicians, poets and performance artists presented their art to an enthusiastic audience in September at the Caliente Club (1998), Alice Cooperstown (1999), and Undici Undici in Mesa (2001, 2002) while effectively fundraising for Cultural Coalition events.
La Calaca Cabaret – is a development of the Calaca Café concept which was presented in October 2008 at the Herberger Theater as part of the 1st ALAC Theater Festival. It introduced the audience to many different performances relating to the theme of Dia de Los Muertos.
Brazilian Carnaval – has been an annual event of Cultural Coalition since 1997, bringing together the finest Brazilian musicians living in the Phoenix area to share this exciting event with expatriate Brazilians and Valley residents as well as in Tucson. Venues included The Cajun House, Scottsdale Center for the Arts, Holiday Inn at the Airport, Rio/Brazil Steak House in Scottsdale, El Parador Restaurant in Tucson, and Monti’s La Casa Vieja in Tempe. On March 1, 2009 we presented A Brazilian Sunday Affair for the second consecutive year as part of the Scottsdale Center for the Arts Performing Arts Series. We will present A Brazilian Affair again in Glendale hosted by the West Valley Arts Council at the Renassaince Hotel on Sunday, April 19th, 2009.
Theater Projects:
La Pastorela – has been presented yearly during the month of December both in the Yaqui/Mexican community of Guadalupe and in Phoenix. We have worked successfully with Centro de Amistad in Guadalupe and Teatro Bravo in Phoenix to bring this event to both communities. It has been also presented at the Phoenix Performing Arts Center downtown Phoenix in conjunction with the Latino Institute, Dec 2005, and at the Mesa Arts Center in December 2006.
In 2007 and 2008, we were able to develop strong partnerships and present La Pastorela at different communities throughout the Valley. We presented it in South Phoenix at Cesar Chavez High School with support from the Phoenix Arts Commission and the Mexican Consulate. We also presented it at Mesa Community College with support from the Arizona Commission on the Arts, the Mesa Association of Hispanic Citizens and MCC Mecha Students. In 2007 La Pastorela was also presented at two west valley locations, both sponsored by the West Valley Arts Council: at Copper Canyon Performing Arts High School and at Tolleson’s Veteran Arena.
All these presentations have been accompanied by an Artist Mercado where we showcased the art work of different local Chicano artists and thus helped with their entrepreneurial skills. We also succeeded in greatly expanding our yearly audience for La Pastorela this past season.
¡Que Pasión¡ - was presented during the Spring to the community colleges audiences: in 1999 at Chandler Gilbert Community College, in 2000 at Gateway Community College, 2001 in South Mountain Community College and 2002 at Phoenix College. Each time we have encountered a bigger audience who are eager to support our efforts in the theatrical area.
De Grazia - The Impossible Eccentric, written by Terry Earp, was presented the Kerr Cultural Center in May 10-19th, 2005. This one man played performed by Zarco Guerrero, examines the life of Arizona’s most famous artist at the point where he burned over one million dollars worth of his art in the Superstitions Mountains in 1976, in order to protest the tax laws. Ms. Earp was able to do extensive research on DeGrazia’s life and write the monologue utilizing mostly his own words.
