When it comes to El Salvador, the media mostly focuses on the violence, gangs, and poverty that makes life difficult for many. And while it’s true that these things are a part of the country, they shouldn’t wholly define this, or any, nation. That’s why a group of Salvadoran Americans – both born in the United States and El Salvador – are coming together for the Somos Arte: The Creative Movement of El Salvador documentary. The film will highlight contemporary art in the country and the artists who have shaped the movement. But in order to tell this story, Somos Arte needs your help.
The group has launched a IndieGoGo campaign to raise $75,000 to make this film a reality. Salvadorans are one of the biggest groups of Latinxs in the United States, but the stories told about this community is often one-dimensional.
“Since the first wave of Salvadorans arrived in the United States in the 1980s, very little of El Salvador’s art has been showcased in US American spaces,” the campaign page reads. “Salvadoran Americans are now the third largest Latino population in the United States, but for many, El Salvador only represents violence and street gang culture. Counter to this narrative, a vibrant arts and cultural scene has been developing in the capital since the end of the Salvadoran civil war, giving birth to its own unique sounds, imagery, and content.”
The documentary includes interviews with graphic designers, illustrators, musicians, muralists, and more. To learn more, check out the video below. And to support, donate here by Monday, June 17.