Open Dialogue XI: Global Connections to Cultural Democracy
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OPEN DIALOGUE XI: GLOBAL CONNECTIONS TO CULTURAL DEMOCRACY CONFERENCE AND SYMPOSIUM PROCEEDINGS Denver, Colorado July 12-15, 2007 OUR THANKS The Western States Arts Federation and The Association of American Cultures thank the following major sponsors of Open Dialogue XI: Global Connections to Cultural Democracy: Americans for the Arts + City and County of Denver + Colorado Council on the Arts + Denver Office of Cultural Affairs + National Endowment for the Arts + Arts Midwest + California Arts Council + The Denver Center for Performing Arts + Illinois Arts Council + Network of Cultural Centers of Color + North Carolina Arts Council + Ohio Arts Council + Pennsylvania Council on the Arts + Texas Commission on the Arts + Washington State Arts Commission + The Westword OPEN DIALOGUE XI: GLOBAL CONNECTIONS TO CULTURAL DEMOCRACY CONFERENCE AND SYMPOSIUM PROCEEDINGS Denver, Colorado July 12-15, 2007 Sponsored by the Western States Arts Federation. Presented by The Association of American Cultures Production and distribution of these proceedings are made possible by the Denver Office of Cultural Affairs, Americans for the Arts, the Colorado Council on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts. OPEN DIALOGUE XI: GLOBAL CONNECTIONS TO CULTURAL DEMOCRACY CONFERENCE AND SYMPOSIUM PROCEEDINGS Denver, Colorado July 12-15, 2007 Symposium Director Proceedings Editor Kate Aid Leah Bassity Contributing Editors Graphic Design Erin Bassity Cristina Arnal Ryan Blum Lisa Boyd Anthony Radich Laurel Sherman The Western States Arts Federation 1743 Wazee Street, Suite 300 Denver, Colorado 80202 Tel. 303-629-1166 TTY: 303-607-9019 Fax: 303-629-9717 www.westaf.org TABLE OF CONTENts Dedication 3 About the Conference Presenter 5 About the Conference and Symposium Sponsor 7 Foreword 9 Symposium Participants 11 PRESENTATIONS AND DIscUssIONS Conference Welcome Address 15 Louis LeRoy Introduction 17 James Early Keynote Address 19 The Challenges of Cultural Diversity in the Global Context Doudou Diène Symposium Welcome Address 27 Juan Carrillo Erin Trapp Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper Symposium Session A 31 The History and Significance of The Association of American Cultures and Other Organizations’ Work on Racism and Cultural Democracy in our Nation Presenters: Suzanne Benally, A.B. Spellman, Louis LeRoy Discussant: Loie Fecteau Symposium Session B 39 Changing Culture-Scapes Presenters: Tomás Ybarra-Frausto, Tabassum Haleem, Roland Tanglao Respondents: Shani Jamila, Arthur Jones, Annette Evans Smith Discussant: Loie Fecteau Symposium Session C 55 Migration of Peoples, Cultural Flows, and the Surrounding Debate Presenters: Maria-Rosario Jackson, Ilona Kish, Diana Molina Respondents: Cristina King Miranda, Sangeeta Isvaran Symposium Session D 69 Building a Cultural Democracy Agenda Presenter: Tatiana Reinoza Perkins Respondent: Justin Laing Discussant: Loie Fecteau Global Cultural Roundtable Discussion 75 with special performance by Laura “Piece” Kelley-Jahn Presenters: Paula Astorga, Ivan Duran, Aziz Ridouan, Quentin Renaudo, Gabriella Gomez-Mont, Natalia Toledo, Carlos Enríquez Verdura References and Works Cited 90 Symposium Process and Conference Agenda 91 Participants’ Biographies 97 Open Dialogue XI: Global Connections to Cultural Democracy DEDICATION The Board of Directors of The Association of American Cultures (TAAC) and the Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF) dedicate these proceedings to TAAC’s late board chairman, Louis LeRoy. Louis died peacefully in Yuma, Arizona, on November 26, 2007, only four months after the 11th Open Dialogue Conference and shortly after the Board’s successful strategic planning retreat in Chicago. Louis was born in Yuma on August 18, 1941. After a distin- guished career in arts management nationally, he returned to Yuma in 2002 to assume the position of executive direc- tor of the Yuma Fine Arts Association. Up until the end, Louis continued his work as a professional visual artist. Louis contributed greatly to the national field of arts advo- cacy and administration. He demonstrated extraordinary dedication to the promotion of artists and the broader social value of their aesthetic expressions as the first expan- sion arts coordinator for the Arizona Commission on the Arts, area representative for the National Endowment for the Arts, and a former director for the Arts Council of San Antonio. Most importantly, Louis’ work on behalf of the many American communities and artists of color found its Drawing by Paul Nguyen mission in 2001, when Louis almost single-handedly resur- rected The Association of American Cultures —which had been dormant for four years at that point. Now a 23-year-old organization, Louis strengthened TAAC’s pursuit of its challenge to promote multicultural diversity and cultural democracy in the arts field. The most visible accomplishment of Louis’ work is the biennial Open Dialogue, a national arts conference that has been held in San Jose, Philadelphia, and Denver since he took over the organization. Louis always had a keen mind for American political advocacy, a wide perspective on life, and a good nature. He told many a good story about climbing the Eiffel Tower or riding a motorcycle in the desert. He had a gift for setting the stage to bring ethnically diverse peoples together to discuss, argue, reach principled compromises of collaboration, and have a good time—while learning to trust and love one another. The TAAC Board will miss Louis very much. We honor his memory by continuing in the work of TAAC. Sincerely, The Board of Directors of The Association of American Cultures 3 Open Dialogue XI: Global Connections to Cultural Democracy 4 Open Dialogue XI: Global Connections to Cultural Democracy ABOUT thE CONFERENCE • Embraces principles of cultural democracy that PRESENTER support practices reflecting diverse creative visions of excellence and open dialogue The Association of American Cultures The mission of The Association of American Cultures Past Open Dialogues (TAAC) is to represent the distinctive and collective • 2007 Denver, Colorado concerns of people of diverse populations in the United Host, Western States Arts Federation States and its Trust Territories regarding the preservation and creative vitality of their cultural identities through • 2005 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania the arts. TAAC is committed to cultural diversity as a Host, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts distinct element in American public arts policy. • 2003 San Jose, CA TAAC was established to provide arts services to people Host, San Jose Office of Cultural Affairs of color in America, specifically to African Americans, Latinos, Asians, and Native Americans. The organization • 1998 Dallas, TX has evolved to recognize the importance of including Host, Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs representatives of all cultures in the Open Dialogue. • 1996 St. Louis, MO America is a country of immigrants, and TAAC is dedi- Host, St. Louis Regional Arts Commission cated to honoring our ancestors and the traditions and beliefs that guided their lives. • 1994 Columbus, OH Host, Ohio Arts Council TAAC was founded in 1985 after the participants of Open Dialogue II passed a resolution establishing it. • 1992 Los Angeles, CA Open Dialogue II was the second national meeting Host, California Arts Council held in the United States for artists and arts managers of color. Participants represented all arts disciplines • 1990 Oklahoma and all ethnically specific minority communities. The Host, Oklahoma Arts Council resolution formed a national arts service organization that would continue to convene the Open Dialogues • 1989 Washington, D.C. and act as an advocate for artists and arts organizations Host, D.C. Commission on the Arts concerned with the preservation of cultural identities • 1985 San Antonio, TX through the arts. Host, Arts Council of San Antonio Core Values Advocacy In fulfilling its mission and vision, TAAC: TAAC monitors national legislation which may have an • Respects the integrity of the diversity of cultural impact on its constituency. Its fax-alert broadcast system expressions can inform members within hours of important activ- ity in Washington D.C.. TAAC participates annually in • Believes in the inclusiveness of all artists and cul- National Advocacy Day by visiting congressional offices tural workers in the arts/culture policy dialogue in Washington D.C. and providing information on the needs of culturally specific artists and arts organizations. • Advocates for recognition and equality of cultural Additionally, a TAAC representative attends meetings worldviews within their historical context called by the Chair for the National Endowment for the Arts and those of other arts service organizations in the United States that inform public policy. 5 Open Dialogue XI: Global Connections to Cultural Democracy 6 Open Dialogue XI: Global Connections to Cultural Democracy ABOUT thE CONFERENCE task force and transformed the group into a perma- AND SYMPOSIUM SPONSOR nent advisory committee. The Multicultural Advisory Committee now regularly meets and advises WESTAF The Western States Arts Federation on a wide variety of issues. Cultural Identity in the (WESTAF) West was the first in a series of planned convenings on WESTAF is a nonprofit arts-service organization dedi- topics related to multiculturalism and the arts in the cated to the creative advancement and preservation West. The New Face of Arts Leadership in the West was of the arts. Founded in 1974, the organization fulfills the second in that series. its mission to