By Luigino Bracci Roa – El Espacio De Lubrio, Feb 11th 2013
In light of Venezuela’s recent currency devaluation, Venezuelan blogger and technology activist Luigino Bracci Roa argues that a change in attitudes towards consumption and technology is required.
David Segarra of Cause, a new network supporting alternative youth culture in Venezuela, argues that “While in Chile, Colombia, in Europe there are cuts, and in Spain university tuition fees are being made more expensive and support for cinema is being cut by 35%, here in Venezuela, fortunately, support for culture is growing”.
The Bolívar Symphony Orchestra is, along with Dudamel himself, perhaps the most widely revered product of the Fundación Musical Simón Bolívar. Colloquially known as “El Sistema,” and funded entirely by the Venezuelan government the FMSB has over the past 37 years succeeded in its task of training literally hundreds of thousands of kids in classical music and technique.
Four years ago only one child on the Raploch estate in Stirling was learning a musical instrument. There are now 450 kids who are not only playing instruments, but are part of an orchestra. The project was inspired by Venezuela's El Sistema program, and last week worked with Venezuela's Simon Bolivar Symphany Orchestra.
By Clemency Burton-Hill - The Guardian, Jun 23rd 2012
In a rare interview, El Sistema founder José Antonio Abreu talks about his passion for Venezuela's extraordinary musical programme that gives children a route out of poverty
By Arturo Rosales & Les Blough - Axis of Logic, Jun 2nd 2012
When Venezuela’s leftist president, Hugo Chávez, took power in 1999, Paul Gillman, once the scourge of the political establishment, became one of its most vocal defenders.
While some musicians agree that someone should be arrested for downloading their MP3, in more civilised countries like Venezuela, artists instead feel honoured when the people know about them, and download and share their songs.
By John M. Eger, The Huffington Post, Apr 7th 2012
It started in a little town in Venezuela almost 35 years ago, made its way to cities in the U.S. and is now a global phenomenon. El Sistema, which doesn't translate well, means simply "the system," a system for giving young, usually poor kids, a chance on living.
Caracas resident Carola Chavez writes about the book fair with excitement, not to mention the taxi driver with whom she had a deep philosophical conversation, and the cleaner at the fair who loved to read, and showed her around.
By Pablo Navarrete & Jody McIntyre. Latin American Bureau, Mar 4th 2012
First it was Venezuela's Youth Orchestra, now it is its Hip-Hop Revolución which is attracting hundreds of teenagers across the country. Not officially part of the Bolivarian Revolution, it nevertheless sees itself as part of the same movement for change.
By Lainie Cassel - Upside Down World, Mar 17th 2011
It is 7:00 on a Wednesday evening in Caracas’s southern barrio known as La Vega. In a small classroom lined with worn-out wooden desks, youth of all ages sit and listen to a local DJ talk about the historical roots of hip-hop culture. After the discussion is over, the youth quickly disperse and hip-hop beats begin blasting as dancers practice their footwork and emcees prepare to show off their latest rhymes.
It says a lot about the music scene in Caracas that within minutes of entering Venezuela's newest concert hall, I am already ignoring two world exclusives. Simon Rattle and Gustavo Dudamel, arguably the two most sought-after conductors in the world, are busy at work before my eyes.
It is becoming more and more clear to me that the revolutionary process suffers from the absence of a fundamental factor, a vital key of any people: Consciousness of their cultural identity.
