Source: Juan Castrillon Description: Juan Castrillón pursues doctoral studies in Ethnomusicology at the University of Pennsylvania.  His work is primarily ethnographic, conducting fieldwork among Muslim mystics in Turkey, and Tukanoan shamans from the Northwestern Amazon in Colombia. His most recent film HAVI was premiered at the Musicology Department of Medeniyet University in Istanbul, and at the International House of…

Source: Kala Jojo Description: Kala is a folklorist, self-styled musician, storyteller and touring artist. Kala Jojo brings a lifetime of training and experience to every community event and school residency he encounters. Kala is extremely proficient at connecting his story-art format with school curricula. Kala holds a Bachelors of Arts degree and has taken graduate courses in…

Source: Kulu Mele African Dance & Drum Ensemble Description: Based in Philadelphia, Kulu Mele has been a highly regarded cultural institution in the Delaware Valley for nearly 50 years.  Kulu Mele’s performance repertoire features authentic, traditional dance and drumming from West Africa, Cuba and Brazil, as well as contemporary American hip-hop.  Kulu Mele performs year-round throughout Philadelphia…

Source: Philadelphia Office of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy Description: The Office of Arts, Culture and The Creative Economy (OACCE) supports Philadelphia’s arts, culture, and creative industries through partnership, promotion, and education. OACCE partners with for-profit and nonprofit organizations and City offices and agencies to ensure culture and creativity are essential components of the City’s strategies…

Source: Liliana Velásquez Description: At fourteen, Liliana Velásquez walked out of her village in Guatemala and headed for the U.S. border, alone. On her two-thousand-mile voyage, she was robbed by narcos, rode the boxcars of La Bestia, encountered death in the Sonoran Desert, and eventually found a loving and safe home in Philadelphia. Her memoir, Dreams and…

Source: Conjunto Philadelphia Description: Conjunto Philadelphia is a Cuban musical ensemble based in the Philadelphia area performing the music of Pre-Revolutionary Cuba. The group’s main aspiration is to maintain the authenticity of the music while performing it in a way that pays homage to Cuba’s deep and treasured musical history. Genres include Son, Cha-Cha-Chá and Bolero. They are…

Source: Mexican Cultural Center Description:  The Mexican Cultural Center, a nonprofit organization, produces Philadelphia’s official annual Mexican Independence Day Festival each September at Penn’s Landing. The MCC celebrates and promotes Mexican culture through annual programming including Cinco De Mayo and Día de los Muertos events.  The Center offers speakers on Mexican history, culture and traditions,…

Source: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Description: The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is a museum and art school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. PAFA’s museum has collections of 19th- and 20th-century American fine arts and Its archives house important materials for the study of American art history, museums, and art training. PAFA’s extensive art…

Source: Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers Description: Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers (KYL/D) celebrates the ability of dance to integrate body, spirit and mind, inviting audiences worldwide to engage in their own journeys of self-discovery. Proceeding from a rich frame informed by diverse philosophies, living traditions and contemplative practices of Asian origin, the company performs original works by its founding Artistic Director,…

Source: Citizen Diplomacy International of Philadelphia Description: CDI strives to foster cultural understanding through connecting Philadelphians with international visitors across all walks of life, including business, government, and education.  CDI works with the city of Philadelphia, the Department of State, and other governmental agencies to develop these connections. Of special note is CDI’s Sister Cities Program…