Cultural Agents

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Cultural Agents

We are a network of academics, artists, educators, and organizations who develop recognition of the arts as resources for positive social change.

Cultural Agents is non-profit organization.

05/28/2025

⚡🇨🇷 Pre-Texts in Costa Rica!
On May 7th, a virtual gathering was held with the Pre-Texts community in Costa Rica. The dialogue that emerged was enriching. Teresa Ulate shared her experience as a trainer of trainers, emphasizing the importance of mastering the processes in order to replicate them meaningfully. Andrea Mora highlighted the value of Pre-Texts in building learning communities. Alicia Jiménez described her work with the local municipality, integrating art and reading into community education processes. Xavi Mínguez spoke about reclaiming reading as an educational tool, both in childhood and higher education. Eugenia Jarquín reflected on deep listening and shared participation as key learning elements. Grettel Loría emphasized Pre-Texts's impact on her teacher training students and expressed her interest in incorporating these methodologies into her pedagogical practice. The gathering planted a shared motivation to continue working collectively to transform educational spaces through everyday practices, sensitivity, and creativity.

05/28/2025

⚡🇨🇱 Pre-texts in Chile!

We invite you to watch the video of the presentation given by Professor Paulina Nuñez on May 9, 2025, where she shared the preliminary results of the project applying the Pre-Texts methodology in various grade levels at San Fernando College. The event also featured Professor Doris Sommer from the NGO Cultural Agents, Joaquín U. Mayor, as well as school leaders, the administrator, the principal, and teachers from the college. The findings highlight an increase in students’ reading motivation and appreciation for art in the classroom; Pre-Texts also emerges as a protective factor against high levels of student anxiety and low reading engagement, supporting improvements in students’ cognitive self-perception. Additionally, the project has led to greater motivation among teachers. This is a great opportunity to see how Pre-Texts is transforming learning from within the classroom!

05/27/2025

⚡🇮🇳 Pre-Texts Grows Across India:
60+ Teachers Trained, New Collaborations, and a National UnConference

This year, Pre-Texts has expanded significantly across India, with more than 60 teachers trained in Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan—many by facilitators from The Heritage School, Vasant Kunj. The program also deepened its collaboration with Sarvam Shakti, bringing creative pedagogy to marginalized girls. New themes like climate change and mental health are being integrated through literature and the arts, showing how Pre-Texts responds to real-world challenges.

On March 21, a public UnConference at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi brought together educators from across the country for a hands-on demonstration of the Pre-Texts protocol. Led by students from The Heritage School, the event featured original performances, a panel discussion with school leaders, and remarks by Mittal Institute Executive Director Hitesh Hathi—highlighting the growing impact of Pre-Texts and inspiring new educators to join the movement.

In India, teachers across various grade levels have observed some remarkable changes. The junior school teachers highlight that the students are excited about concepts and appreciate the ability to complete much of the concepts with ease.

We see the students being active participants in their classes, taking charge of their learning, and engaging more deeply in discussions.

With the implementation of the Pre-Texts methodology, educators are witnessing each child working towards creating an environment where learning and sharing knowledge is both natural and joyful.

05/27/2025

We are happy to announce that 9 Harvard College undergraduates will be spending this summer as Pre-Texts interns. Gunnar Sizemore ‘27 and Willie Hu ‘28 will be working on creating a new « Pre-Texts for blind students » program with Valeria Pica at the BACH Center of the University Gabriele d’Anunzio (Chieti, Pescara). Hannah Wilkoff ‘27 will be working at the Center for Arts and Leadership (South of France), where she will be helping with the implementation of an art and nature program from business professionals. Victoria Kishoiyan ‘26 and Saskia Hermann ‘28 will be interning at the Shamiri Institute in Nairobi, Kenya, and implementing Pre-Texts within the context of Shamiri’s psychological studies. Jack Trapanick ‘26 will be spending the summer in Lima, Peru, where he will be dividing his time between teaching journalism with Pre-Texts and writing his own investigative articles. Livingston Zug ‘26 will be working at the University of Valencia and supervising the application of a Pre-Texts project in local communities. Finally, Hudson Byrd ‘28 will be located at the University of Oviedo, where he will divide his work between historical research and Pre-Texts trainings for students and teachers.

04/17/2025

📰⚡ We’re excited to share the latest edition of our Cultural Agents newsletter! It features powerful stories from recent projects in Colombia and India, reflections on pedagogy and climate action, and upcoming events you won’t want to miss. You can read it here: https://f.mtr.cool/cdefybtqer

04/01/2025

⚡ ¡Pre-Textos estará en RIZOMANCIA el próximo 5 de abril!

Inscríbete hasta el 3 de abril 🎭

Rizomancia es un encuentro alrededor de herramientas artísticas para narrar historias socioambientales. Un espacio donde el arte y el aprendizaje se entrelazan para crear impacto.

Será un día lleno de inspiración con 9 talleres y 7 ponencias a cargo de profesionales de diversas disciplinas, quienes compartirán herramientas artísticas para narrar historias socioambientales con impacto global.

📅 Fecha: 5 de abril
🕖 Horario: 7:00 am - 5:00 pm
📍 Lugar: Centro Civico, Universidad de los Andes
🎟️ Requisito: Solo necesitas inscribirte en el siguiente enlace https://f.mtr.cool/tpzyrafuwl

¡No te pierdas esta oportunidad de aprender, crear y conectar con otras personas apasionadas por el arte y el cambio social!

03/13/2025

🇦🇷⚡ In 2025, Pre-Texts Argentina has continued its transformative work with children and families in underserved communities of Buenos Aires. Through workshops at Juegoteca Recreando Juntos and Comedor Siempre Carrillo, participants engaged with Jorge Luis Borges’ The House of Asterion, exploring literacy through poetry, visual arts, and collective reading. The program also expanded with Cultural Expeditions, offering hands-on artistic and environmental experiences, including visits to theaters, museums, and libraries. With a strong emphasis on literacy, self-expression, and community engagement, Pre-Texts Argentina fosters a love for learning while reinforcing school retention and creative confidence among young participants.
👋 Follow this initiative:
Pre-Textos Argentina

03/13/2025

🗞️📷 New month, new stories! Get the latest updates and insights in our newsletter. Don’t miss out: https://f.mtr.cool/gxkqrvfskp

02/27/2025

TODAY! at 5 pm Lecture: Artificial Intelligence needs Humanity 📷 with Mike Pell, at Humanities Center, Plymouth, Mahindra Humanities Center (Harvard University)

Leave a comment and we'll send you the live stream link! 💻

02/21/2025

🇨🇷 Pre-Texts for Territorial Rights in Costa Rica

In January, Layli Brown (Founder at Museum Afro Costa Rica) coordinated workshops with Doris Sommer to bring Pre-Texts to San José, Limón, and indigenous communities. A transformative impact was reported by Afro-professional women, Indigenous participants, and heterogeneous groups of young Afro-Costa Ricans.

🏛️ Pre-Texts at the Afro-Costa Rica Museum: Art and Community Justice
In Puerto Viejo, Pre-Texts at the Afro-Costa Rica Museum brought together intellectuals, educators, and community members to explore reading through performance. Using legal texts on land rights, participants sculpted body images and dramatized key moments, making complex topics accessible.

The museum now hosts regular sessions where elders, leaders, and children analyze legal cases through theater, strengthening collective knowledge and advocacy. Inspired by Pre-Texts, the Amoeba Tour emerged—where visitors connected texts to artworks, turning exhibitions into interactive narratives. This initiative continues to empower the community, merging literacy, history, and creativity into an ongoing participatory experience.

Pre-Texts in Talamanca: Literature as a Cultural Bridge
In Talamanca, Pre-Texts connected Indigenous communities through Jorge Luis Borges’ “The Two Kings and the Two Labyrinths.” Participants composed songs and enacted scenes in Bribri, Cabécar, Kryol, and Spanish, making literature a shared experience.

Some traveled for days, crossing rivers with books in hand. In Finca Loroco and Amubri, even those with limited literacy found their voices through rhythm and melody. The method fostered creativity and healing, offering a space for self-expression and cultural exchange. Pre-Texts proved that reading is more than comprehension—it is performance, connection, and empowerment across languages and traditions.

02/21/2025

The Pre-Texts program is being implemented under the Ministry of Justice (Colombia) to train 30 social leaders in Culture and Pedagogy of Peace. Two virtual sessions (January 16 & 23) supported 26 facilitators-in-training, providing guidance, practical examples, and methodological feedback. Participants replicated the approach with children and adults using texts like Picnic de Palabras and La otra orilla. Key challenges include logistical barriers and digital access in rural areas. Future actions include continued training, strengthening facilitator networks, and expanding educational applications.

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