Expanding its programming to everyone is one of Arts of the Pamlico’s goals. Sunday, that expansion embraces the Hispanic and Latino community, as AOP wraps up a month of events celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, with an afternoon performance at the Turnage Theatre.

“We want to be able to reach kid of all backgrounds, to really illustrate arts through people who reflect what people look like in our community. That’s one of our goals,” said AOP Executive Director Debra Torrence.

AOP has teamed up with Washington’s Human Relations Council, inviting the Carolina Licona Dance Group, Grupo Los Hermanos Montieles-Acosta — three young brothers on guitar — as well as a Latin guitar performances by East Carolina University guitar professor Elliot Frank and his students.

“They are classically trained guitarists — he has eight coming,” Torrence said.

Nearly 8 percent of Beaufort County’s population is of Hispanic or Latino descent, according to 2017 U.S. Census estimates. Arts of the Pamlico’s Board of Directors were seeking ways to expand the nonprofit’s cultural reach.

“Our board had been talking about the need to expand not just the type of arts programs but the type of cultural programming we do,” Torrence said. “It’s been a neat opportunity for us to expand.”

Torrence said the use of its North Carolina Arts Council multi-cultural programming dollars, along with contribution from the Human Relations Council, provided the opportunity to put on Sunday’s performance. Prior to Sunday, AOP is hosting a stand-up comedy show, led by Hispanic comedians out of Raleigh, on Saturday night.

Torrence said she hopes both performances draw a crowd.

“We’ve been working to get information out,” Torrence said.

 

AOP’s Schedule of Events

Saturday:

7 p.m. IC Improv

8:30 p.m. Stand Up Comedy with Iris Medina, Freddy Valoy and friends

 

Sunday

1:30 – 1:45 p.m. Carolina Licona Dance Group

2 – 2:15 p.m. -Grupo Los Hermanos Montieles-Acosta (youth from Mexico, “The Shadow of Power” on guitar”)

2:30 – 2:45 p.m.  Grupo “Folklor Colombiano” and Cumbia “La Pollera Colorada”

3 p.m.  Latin guitar performances Eliot Frank and ECU students