Immigration Arts + Culture Working Group
The Opportunity Agenda has begun a focus on the integration of arts, cultural, and new media strategies that promote the inclusion, integration, and human rights of immigrants in the United States. Starting in late fall 2009, we plan to create an “infrastructure” of relationships, information, innovative practices, and funding opportunities that builds support for immigrant integration and human rights through arts, culture, and media. In the short term, we plan to inform and engage key audiences on the issue of anticipated national immigration reform and reforms to the immigration enforcement system. In the long term, we plan to develop best practices and effective models for creative collaboration across immigrant integration and human rights issues. In order to accomplish these initial objectives, we will:
- Host a working group on immigration and arts + culture;
- Produce an initial mapping of the field with a focus on promising uses of arts, culture, and new media as it relates to federal legislative reform, immigration detention and due process, immigrant integration, and related human rights issues;
- Generate a pipeline of projects for possible collaboration and support;
- Produce forums to educate and mobilize members of the creative community.
This project will be staffed by winter 2010. Until then, for more information, please contact Janet Dewart Bell (jdbell@opportunityagenda.org) or Jason P. Drucker (jdrucker@opportunityagenda.org).
Immigration: Arts + Culture + Social Change in the News
“American Stories, From Mexican Roots,” New York Times, December 8, 2009.
“At the White House, a Celebration of Latin Music,” New York Times, October 13, 2009.
“Museums Take on Immigration Debate with Exhibits,” Chicago Tribune, September 30, 2009.
“U.S. Census Uses Telenovela to Reach Hispanics,” New York Times, September 23, 2009.