Arts and education projects in Guatemala

Since 2016 we have created, designed, managed and delivered artistic and cultural development projects that have benefited hundreds of young people from communities across Guatemala.

A youth orchestra rehearsing with violins and marimba

Beyond artistic growth, these projects carry a vital component of citizenship, multiculturalism and promotion of a culture of peace, with the goal of forming community leaders who become agents of change in different fields and regions of the country.

Through camps, workshops, training, educational concerts and intercultural festivals, FUNDADELA has worked hand in hand with other organizations that matter to the cultural life of the country.

Some of our projects

Garifuna Percussion Orchestra

Creation and sustainability of the Garifuna Percussion Orchestra of Guatemala in Livingston, Izabal, which now operates with support from the central and local governments.

Specialized training for music teachers

Training for more than 30 teachers from the Quetzaltenango Music Conservatory and the Instituto Indígena Santiago in Guatemala.

Research and Action

A project organized with Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, where the Action Research course was implemented in the classroom. More than 600 primary school students from five schools in western Guatemala took part.

National Marching Band and Citizenship Camp

More than 250 participants from across the country, made possible by the Physical Education Directorate (DIGEF), the National Symphony Orchestra of Guatemala, the Arts Training Directorate of the Ministry of Culture and Sports and the Embassy of the United States in Guatemala. Participants were members of marching bands from different regions, taught by distinguished instructors from Guatemala and the United States.

First International Jazz Camp

Organization of the First International Jazz and Citizenship Camp, held in Guatemala City with more than 80 musicians taking part.

Music workshops

With the Embassy of the United States in Guatemala and FIU Music, Fundadela organized a series of jazz workshops and performances in several departments of Guatemala, reaching an audience of more than one thousand people.

First International Marimba Festival

FUNDADELA organized the First International Marimba Festival in Guatemala, celebrating our national instrument, with more than 500 spectators and participants.

Concert-workshop on Maya instruments

Together with Universidad del Valle, Fundadela held a concert-workshop on Maya instruments attended by university students, several schools and the general public.

International academic exchange

For one week, four professors and two students from the Jazz Department at Florida International University (FIU) visited Guatemala and gave three free public concerts in Antigua Guatemala, Quetzaltenango and Guatemala City. Visits and masterclasses were also held at the Municipality of Guatemala, Universidad Da Vinci, Universidad del Valle and the National Conservatory of Music.

Cultural exchange with Western University, Canada

Over one week, 16 bachelor, master and doctoral students from the arts programs at Western University (Ontario) visited primary schools, academies, universities and other arts education institutions, offering workshops for students and training for teachers. The exchange included workshops in Canada led by M.Sc. Jacobo Nitsch and M.Sc. Mariela Zelada, Dean of Education at Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, plus an action research course for arts teachers.

Guest speakers at the Music Education Congress in Panama

Organized by the Panama Institute of Culture, the congress invited Jacobo Nitsch, M.A., and Gilmar Mejía as speakers alongside presenters from around the world, covering paradigms in education and music project management. Music teachers from primary and secondary schools and conservatories in Panama attended.

Songwriting Camp for Human Rights

In December 2019, musicians and songwriters from Central America and Colombia gathered for workshops on promoting and respecting human rights, mentored by three award-winning international songwriters and producers: KC Porter, Iker Gastaminza and Rodolfo Castillo. The songs were written, produced and recorded in five days in improvised studios at the camp in Guatemala. A network of songwriters and human rights activists was born from this experience and is still active.

Music industry webinars with the International Federation of Musicians (FIM)

In agreement with the International Federation of Musicians, Fundadela ran a series of six webinars for artists affected by the pandemic, on online music education, gender in local music, safety measures for public events, online events and streaming, cultural public policy, and music during and after the pandemic.

Intercultural Music Festival, Livingston, Izabal

The festival set out to build a self-sustaining project through music, sculpture and visual arts. For one week there were artistic and entrepreneurship activities, and a group of Livingston residents worked on recycling along the town beach. With support from recycling enterprises and the Organization of Black Guatemalans, more than 500 people enjoyed performances by emblematic groups from the country.

Higher education scholarships for artists

To support future artists who cannot afford university, Fundadela built a network of institutions and individuals who donate to this initiative. From 2019 to 2021, more than 25 high-achieving students in education, music and visual arts received support.

Guatejazz Festival

To bring new knowledge to jazz culture and composition, the first Guatejazz Festival was held in 2021, with 18,493 people taking part in the activities shared on Facebook and 1,400 attendees in the Zoom sessions. Participants were musicians, instrumentalists and jazz lovers.

Institutions that have worked with FUNDADELA

Fundadela's steady work has been a seed of action that has reached other national and international organizations, which have joined this effort. We are deeply grateful to them.

MUSICARTES, performing musicians association
AGINPRO, music collective management society
Embassy of the United States in Guatemala
Embassy of South Korea in Guatemala
Municipality of Guatemala City
Municipality of Livingston
Organization of Black Guatemalans (ONEGUA)
Guatemalan Tourism Institute (INGUAT)
Western University, Ontario, Canada
Florida International University
Universidad del Valle de Guatemala
Empresa Eléctrica de Guatemala
Ministry of Education of Panama
Ministry of Culture and Sports of Guatemala
Ministry of Education of Guatemala
Human Rights Ombudsman of Guatemala

FUNDADELA needs your support

Making a donation
Joining as a volunteer
Supporting the delivery of projects
Supporting our sponsorship program
Supporting our scholarship holders

Be part of FUNDADELA and get involved

There are many ways to help, from a donation to your time as a volunteer.