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The Gateways
Program includes an annual convening for arts and cultural
promoters, managers,
administrators and artists of Northeastern Mexico and Texas.
The forums are structured to discuss transnational, bicultural
artistic collaborations in the region, which include Texas and
the Mexican states of Coahuila, Tamaulipas, and Nuevo Leon. Since
1995, GCAC has convened seven Encuentros de Promotores Culturales
de las Antiguas Provincias de Oriente (conferences) in different
locations: Bustamante, Nuevo León (1996 & 1997); Linares,
Nuevo León (1998); Pharr, Texas (1999); Matamoros, Tamaulipas
(2000); Villa de Santiago, Nuevo León (2001), and Del
Rio, Texas (2002). Over 400 artists and presenters from both
sides of the border have participated in the conferences and
exchange ideas about opportunities of collaboration.
The Guadalupe
sees the Gateways Program as an effective means of building
individuals and institutional knowledge, as well as promoting
cultural diversity and cross-cultural communication. These events
widened our network of artists and cultural administrators and
created communication links to numerous artists on both sides
of
the border. In July 2001 eleven organizations (seven
from Northeastern Mexico and four from Texas) gathered in Villa
de Santiago, Nuevo León,
to implement the Texas and Northeastern Mexico Cultural Promoters’ Network.
This network was created for the purpose of encouraging cultural/artistic
exchange among the four states and to enhance audiences’ knowledge
of the region. Each network member organization presents at least
one group/artist from the opposite side of the border during
one of their established festivals/events. In order for an artist/group
to formally participate in the network they have to commit to
the following performances/activities:
1. Didactic/educational presentation to the general public.
2. Presentation in a community space (social service center,
elderly home, detention centers, etc.).
3. Give workshops or conferences in schools, community centers,
etc.
4. Participate in an exchange with local artists of the same
discipline.
The Network member organizations are the
Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, the National Association of
Latino Arts and Culture,
Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts, and
Festival Chicano (the two former organizations are San Antonio-based;
the two latter are Houston-based). Representing the Mexican state
of Coahuila is the Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila. Grupo
Tayer, Danza Contemporánea en Concierto, the Universidad
Autónoma de Nuevo León, represent the state of
Nuevo León, and Patronato Cultural Tamante, Festival de
Ofrendas, and the Universidad del Noreste represent the state
of Tamaulipas. The eleven organizations form the Red de Promotores
Culturales Texas y Norteste de México.
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