SIL Philippines

Most simply, EthnoArts is the appropriate use of indigenous artistic expressions. Every community has unique gifts of artistic communication, i.e. dance, poetry, drama, song, traditional craft, etc.,   that can help them achieve their vision and overcome challenges.

For instance, Filipino communities may face challenges that include the breakdown of cultural transmission between generations. Educators may wish to implement multilingual education plans but lack culturally relevant resource materials. Church leaders may want to use worship songs in an indigenous style to praise God, but they may not know how to get started.

These are just a few examples of situations in which EthnoArts work may be helpful. EthnoArts workers invest in communities and engage with local artists to facilitate community dialogue and promote new artistic expressions that meet local spiritual and felt needs. We encourage communities to celebrate their identity through their cultural art forms.