Red Door Magazine:
Bogota, Colombia:
The ARCCO Foundation– Arte Colombiano para la Comunidad (Colombian Art for the community) was created in 2003 in Bogota, Colombia, with the main objective of accomplishing projects of social interest in the performing arts, theater, music and visual arts, and to develop them in a professional way with support of the city or of private sponsors. In addition, the Arcco foundation is focused on the cultural and social development of events created for children and young adults, and entire high-risk families, victims of delinquency, abandonment, drug abuse and other types of violence.
The ARCCO Theater and Dance group is directed by Lukas Mahecha. It is formed in its majority by low-income students, and art students of public schools, who receive monetary wages for their participation in the events of the group. They have developed seven works, which often present in carnivals and festivals promoted by the state. In addition, these presentations also take place in low-income towns, in communitary spaces, parks, streets, churches, and places where people have no other access to culture, entertainments, theater and dance of high quality.
The school of artistic development, located at calle 64 H Bis No. 85 – 17, La Isabela – Bogotá – Colombia, teaches music, dance, theater and painting workshops to people of all ages. It is directed by Melina Sojo. A symbolic donation is accepted for these services, and scholarships are often given to students of low resources. The school has become a haven for the arts, and a sacred temple for young adults to develop their cultural knowledge and stay away of the streets and its negative influence in their lives.
As if all of this weren’t enough, ARCCO has an alternative Theater space, created under a tent at the current location of the foundation, equipped with lights, sound system, stage and dressing rooms, and can fit 50 people in the public. Public events of poetry, performance, workshops and conferences often take place in this space. Psychologist Luz Carvajal often gives conferences about preventing drug abuse, team work, quality development, and other subjects of education that have been awarded by the National Forum of Education of Colombia and other organizations.
To learn more about ARCCO, please visit:
or write to: fundación_arcco@gmail.com
Special thanks to Melina Sojo and Lukas Mahecha for their welcoming support and friendship to RDNY, and for their unmeasurable and fantastic mission to bring art and culture to the Colombian community.