© 2025 Abbetuck

Cultural Arts

In 1883, the United State Congress banned Native dancing and ceremonies, including the Sun Dance, Ghost Dance and ceremonial feasts. This legislation was part of a broader effort to assimilate Native Americans and suppress their cultural practices. Congress fully lifted the ban in 1978. The Caddo tribe continues to perform the Ghost Dance as part of its cultural and spiritual practices. Image: The Minneapolis Journal, May 23, 1903.

Storytelling. Indigenous and Ethnic Art Forms. Ritual Performances.

How have cultural artists channeled their talents for our common good? What action can you take today?

If you are a storyteller, Indigenous or ethnic artist, or ritual performer, here are ways you might harness your creativity and talents to inspire, mobilize and unite people around sociopolitical causes:

  • Tell Stories with a Purpose: By crafting narratives that highlight social and political issues, you can use your art form to educate and inspire audiences. Cultural arts can be based on real events, personal experiences, or fictionalized accounts that reflect larger societal concerns, making the issues more relatable and engaging.

  • Integrate Symbolism and Metaphor: Using symbolism and metaphor in your work allows artists to convey complex ideas and emotions subtly yet powerfully. These artistic devices can provoke thought and encourage audiences to delve deeper into the underlying messages, fostering a better understanding of social and political issues.

  • Engage and Collaborate with the Community: Collaborate with community members and other artists to create works that reflect the collective experiences and concerns of a community. Engage with the community through workshops, performances, and collaborative projects to amplify voices and bring attention to local and global issues.

  • Utilize Traditional and Ethnic Art Forms: Incorporating traditional and ethnic art forms into your work helps preserve cultural heritage while addressing contemporary issues. By blending the old with the new, you can create powerful works that resonate with diverse audiences and bridge cultural gaps.

  • Activate Public Spaces: Using public spaces for performances, installations, and exhibitions allows you to reach a broader audience and create a more immediate impact. Public art can serve as a catalyst for discussion and activism, encouraging viewers to engage with the issues presented and take action.

Tell Stories with a Purpose

The Center for Cultural Power activates artists to develop and share stories that disrupt disinformation and advance narratives. This inclusive storytelling initiative focuses on critical social issues like gender and health equity, climate justice, immigration and migration, civic engagement and racial justice.

LEARN MORE

Integrate Symbolism and Metaphor

Folk storytellers use their voices and gestures to share stories that passed down through generations. These stories are often fictional and can teach, entertain, or commemorate events. The National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee showcases dozens of the best storytellers the United States.

LEARN MORE

Engage and Collaborate with the Community

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) combines the ancient Aztec custom of celebrating ancestors with All Souls' Day, a holiday that Spanish brought to Mexico in the early 1500s. The holiday fosters community cohesion and cultural pride, as families come together to celebrate and remember their ancestors.

LEARN MORE

Utilize Traditional and Ethnic Art Forms

Renowned for its elaborate puppets and complex musical styles, Wayang is an ancient form of storytelling that originated on the Indonesian island of Java. Wayang often addresses social and political issues. Performances can be risky, especially when they challenge the status quo or criticize powerful figures.

LEARN MORE

Activate Public Spaces

El Anatsui is a sculptor from Ghana who has spent much of his career living and working in Nigeria. Typically, he uses discarded materials to create art works that draw connections between consumption, waste and the environment.

LEARN MORE

In addition to being an important keeper of Singaporean Chinese heritage, Chinese Opera in Singapore has addressed social and political issues, including the struggles of the working class and the impact of government policies. Performances can be politically sensitive, especially when they critique the government or highlight social injustices.

Steve Connell of Spoken Cinema
Pachamama Rami

In the Andean countries of South America, Pachamama Rami is an annual festival and ritual that pays homage to the earth and its fertility. While it has religious significance, Pachamama also serves as a social event that emphasizes the importance of environmental stewardship and community solidarity.

Are you aware of cultural artists who are mobilizing meaningful change in the world with their art form?
TELL US ABOUT THEM
Abbetuck

Abbetuck
P.O. Box 222303
Dallas, TX | USA

Abbetuck encourages artists to create works that inspire compassion and promote freedom.

© 2025 Abbetuck