Altars Live (Multidisciplinary, 2024)

ALTARS Live is an multidisciplinary performance series which spotlights world-class artists in Boston, curated and produced by Mariona Lloreta. The first installment features Grammy-nominated saxophonist Phillip Young; Boston's Youth Poet Laureate Alondra Bobadilla; Krump champion and Season 6 winner of "So You Think You Can Dance” Russell Ferguson; Boston Ballet dancer and US Presidential Scholar in the Arts My'Kal Stromile; Brazilian dance ensemble SambaViva; and award-winning filmmaker Mariona Lloreta's film ALTARS. 

With an aim to battle the “danger of a single story,” ALTARS Live aims to contribute a nuanced, compelling, and fresh perspective to the conversation on racial justice in Boston and in the United States as a whole, and to serve as a collective healing exercise as we reimagine the future while acknowledging and honoring the past.

According to a survey by Massachusetts Artists Leaders Coalition and Artmorpheus, "we are not doing a good job keeping artists in Boston. More and more, artists are leaving, even more so artists of color." Due to rising housing costs, inflation, and systemic inequities, it's becoming unsustainable for artists to pursue their artistic careers in the region. ALTARS Live strives to not only serve as a platform where local artists of color can share their work and where audiences can be in conversation, but to also recognize artists' vital role in a thriving society, starting with prioritizing fair compensation. 

[This program] opens up a space for empathy and connection that a lot of the discourse around race relations in this country doesn't get to. I think it's a critical tool for bridging worlds, experiencing community, and healing. - 2024 ALTARS Live attendee

Every single element of this experience was incredibly powerful and entertaining. But the most impactful part of the event was showcasing the incredible film and providing a Q&A afterwards. This combination joined us altogether in the room, and it was empowering understanding the purpose of your mission, as it motivated me to create and unite in order to facilitate more positive change.  - 2024 ALTARS Live attendee

2024 event photos by Henry Marte.