Tucson's Borderlands Theater gets $100K to highlight arts-health connection
The article from the Arizona Daily Star by Kathleen Allen highlights the significant achievement of Tucson's Borderlands Theater in winning a $100,000 grant from One Nation One Project. This initiative emphasizes the role of arts in enhancing community well-being, acknowledging the extensive research supporting the positive impact of arts on health.
About six years ago, Borderlands Theater shifted its focus from traditional stage plays to more immersive, community-based performances involving theater and music. These performances are set in and inspired by local barrios, incorporating elements like elder stories, puppetry, poetry, and music to narratively explore the neighborhoods and their residents. These events are interactive, involving attendees in a walking journey through parts of the neighborhoods, bringing the history and culture to life through both actors and local residents.
This unique approach to theater caught the attention of One Nation, leading them to select Borderlands Theater as one of 18 theaters nationwide to create and produce a performance for a coordinated event on July 27, 2024. The theme for this event is #NoPlaceLikeHome, reflecting a focus on local stories and community significance.
Marc David Pinate, the producing artistic director of Borderlands, and Milta Ortiz, the associate artistic director, express their enthusiasm for being part of this initiative. They emphasize that their theater's work aligns well with One Nation's objectives of celebrating home, healing, and thriving together.
In preparation for the July 27 event, Borderlands Theater plans to present various performances and activities during the upcoming season. This includes showcasing parts of the final performance, a musical concert featuring songs from an Ortiz-written musical "Anita," and a play about mental health written and performed by Tucson youth. Additional activities involve community talks and art-making sessions for children, aiming to explore and demonstrate the positive effects of art on well-being and mental health.
The theater's efforts are supported by research from organizations like Americans for the Arts, which highlights the benefits of arts on happiness, contentment, and overall mental health. Pinate mentions plans to collaborate with community health organizations to further emphasize the role of arts and culture in social cohesion and mental health.
To learn more about Borderlands Theater and their initiatives, readers are encouraged to visit the complete article here.
