The smooth Latin jazz and catchy salsa sounds of the Grammy award-winning Spanish Harlem Orchestra were an added spark for the St. Louis music scene. Promoted by the Hispanic Arts Council of St. Louis, the band performed at Sheldon Hall, an iconic institution dedicated to “enriching the greater St. Louis region and beyond with a wide range of music, visual arts and educational programs of the highest quality, diversity and educational impact.”

It was a cultural event match made in heaven.

The Hispanic Arts Council of St. Louis (HACSL) promotes the excellence of the Hispanic culture through art and education. They have invited high profile figures not from St. Louis, such as Chucho Valdez, Lila Downs, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Pedrito Martinez Group and artists who have never come before to share their work. According to city-data.com, St. Louis has a population of approximately 312,000 and Hispanics comprise only 4% of that total. The need for representation is evident, and the Council’s efforts offer a different, positive perspective of the Latino culture that can add substance and diversity to the community at large.

“Art destroys stereotypes,” says Virginia Braxs, president of the Hispanic Arts Council of St. Louis. “You leave a concert hall talking about the experience. It’s not isolated. Lessons are embedded in the music of the world. It opens your mind and opens your world to see that we are not that different, that we share the same things.”

The Spanish Harlem Orchestra is an example of the diversity of cultural influence that the Council promotes. But the Council has deeper roots and a mission that expands its reach beyond the arts.

History

A group of St. Louis Hispanic leaders created the Hispanic Arts Council of St. Louis in 1996 to promote the excellence of the Hispanic culture through concerts, arts exhibits and educational events showcasing local and international well-known artists and personalities of Latin America and Spain.

Today, the HAC serves as a one-stop shop to promote Latino artists and musicians, cultural events, and the higher education experience for local students. “We’re doing something no one else is doing, but we have to sacrifice some cultural aspect for the greater need of lifting the underserved Latino community.”

The Heart Of The Arts Council

Virginia Braxs, HAC president, grew up in Cordoba, Argentina, to a doctor father and first grade teacher mother who appreciated the arts and shared that passion with their children. “We didn’t own a home, but we were always exposed to literature, education and art.”

Her parents made sacrifices to send the three children to private schools, art museums, movies and art classes. “It gave me an outlet for self-expression. That was the richness, not money or material things, but something you can make and create.  It’s crucial in the formation of a person and helps them grow spiritually and intellectually.”

That belief followed her as she graduated as a professor of literature and currently teaches Spanish literature at Washington University in St. Louis, where she did her graduate studies. “My calling was to be involved with the Latino community.”

Her work unveiled a lack of opportunity and English proficiency for youth, as well as poverty and gang violence. Many felt there was no hope, no way out. With the support of the Hispanic Arts Council, a task force was started—Universidad Ya!—to help steer youth toward college. This offers a new tangent to the Council’s mission.

Expanding Its Reach

Most Hispanic-related events are organized by other organizations, such as the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, but the council is the one to gather the info to promote them on their calendar.

The council has partnerships and also collaborations with venues like the 700-seat Sheldon Concert Hall—a 20-year relationship. Although committed to being very selective about the artists they bring in, more than 20 countries have been represented as very rich culturally and unique in every way.

Spreading the word about the importance of Latino-influenced arts still is at the heart of the educational outreach. An art gallery showcases diverse art from America and Latin America, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Chile. A radio show offers bilingual programs featuring literature, music and history in an NPR interview format.

Higher education is a newer mission focus. Universidad Ya! helps low-income youth and their parents, regardless of their immigration status, to learn the roadmap to college, prepare for the ACT, apply for college and scholarships, and make a sound financial plan to pay for it.  “You cannot separate arts from the educational component. It’s about learning, experience and what you see, what you listen to can enrich your life.”

The Council’s Universidad Ya! was the first in the bi-state region to have a Hispanic College Fair. The goal is to educate and empower the younger population about leadership. “We want them to know they have a voice and are capable of leading in different areas of society whether politics, commerce, education, healthcare, the arts or more.”

It seems like a balancing act. But the mission of the Hispanic Arts Council remains steady. “Art is a catalyst and offers different perspectives on life. It shows society the hopes and dreams of the world through rich and deep expression. The arts humanizes us.” •