Panel on Art-Based Peacebuilding Activities in Colombia at IPRA 2014

Panel on Art-based Peacebuilding Activities in Colombia at IPRA 2014

By Paola Helena Acosta Sierra & María Elisa Pinto García

During the 25th General Conference of the International Peace Research Association – IPRA –Uniting For Peace: Building Sustainable Peace Through Universal Values, held in Istanbul, Turkey on August 11-15 2014, a panel about art- based peacebuilding activities in Colombia took place within the Arts and Peace Commission. Paola Helena Acosta from Politecnico Grancolombiano University, Maria Elisa Pinto from Prolongar Foundation and Santo Tomas University, and Gloria Patricia Zapata from Juan N. Corpas University, Panel about art-based peacebuilding activities presented three papers related to the armed conflict in in Colombia within the Arts and Peace Colombia with three different art-based initiatives aiming to Commission. Pictured left to right: at the table: overcome this conflict. The studies focused on the link Panelists Gloria Zapata, María Elisa Pinto, Paola Helena Acosta and discussant Craig between art and peace, stressing on the opportunities but Robertson. Photo credit: Sinthya Rubio. also limitations that music and theatre entail for war-torn contexts, and specifically, for Colombia.

The researchers studied different experiences aiming to explain complex issues related to the Colombian armed conflict. Gloria Patricia Zapata presented the paper Can music help internally displaced children in Colombia?; Maria Elisa Pinto presented César López and the Escopetarra: The Power of Communication in Music-based Conflict Transformation Initiatives; and Paola Helena Acosta presented Why Arts in Times of War? All of them stressed on the importance of carrying out more art-based peacebuilding initiatives in Colombia, taking into account that trauma healing, reconciliation and symbolic reparation are key for a sustainable peace in the country.

The participants at the panel were very impressed by the presentations. Olivier Urbain, director of the TODA Institute and former convener of the Art and Peace Commission at IPRA, stated: “I was very impressed with the high level of academic and human qualities of the presenters, and of the importance of the stories they told. I am now convinced that Colombian people deserve much, much better and that the world needs to Attendees & panelists at Panel about art- pay attention (…) After this session it seems to me that based peacebuilding activities in Colombia is such an amazing country with wonderful people Colombia within the Arts and Peace that we need many more such panels focusing on this Commission. Pictured left to right: Kitche Magak, María Elisa Pinto, Paola Helena country.” Acosta, Olivier Urbain and Gloria Zapata. Photo credit: Sinthya Rubio.