Friday, April 25, 2025: Britt is proud to deepen its partnership with the Latinx community in Southern Oregon through continued collaboration with its Latinx Advisory Committee. As a cornerstone of cultural enrichment in the region, Britt recognizes the importance of creating meaningful, inclusive programs that reflect the diverse voices of its community. Strengthening Britt’s engagement with the Latinx community not only enhances cultural representation, but also fosters connection, creativity, and shared experiences– all cornerstones of the organization’s values.
“Thanks to the work of our Director of Education and Engagement, Rachel Jones, we’ve had the privilege of collaborating with an extraordinary group of Latino/a/x/e leaders in Southern Oregon to identify ways we can better support and serve our Spanish-speaking community,” said McKee. “We are honored to celebrate the vibrant cultural heritage of our Latinx community.”
This season brings some stellar new shows for the venue, like the first ever performance from a mariachi band, Mariachi Sol De México® de José Hernández, Latin instrumental duo Hermanos Gutiérrez, as well as the return of Cuban ensemble The Buena Vista Orchestra. These shows are a welcome addition to the festival’s robust artistic legacy, offering audiences an even wider selection of artists, genres, and experiences on the Hill. “I see the collaboration between the Britt and the Latinx leaders who represent the committee as an effort to show the Latinx community that spaces such as the Britt can be a place where we can enjoy ourselves, listen to incredible music, and be in community,” said Diana Ramos, Organizational Wellbeing Manager with Coalicion Fortaleza. “This work is incredibly important because spaces where our community can comfortably be themselves.”
Southern Oregon University Assistant Vice President for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Jonathan Chavez Baez, said the connection between Britt and the subcommittee began through an inspiring conversation with Britt Education Director, Rachel Jones. “It was during this exchange that we began envisioning the exciting possibilities this collaboration could bring to the Southern Oregon region,” Chavez Baez said. “At the heart of our discussion was a shared goal: to celebrate the contributions of the Latino community and foster a true sense of belonging. And what better way to bring people together than through the power of music?”
Chavez Baez explains that this partnership has opened doors to even more opportunities beyond the committee’s work, because Britt is also partnering with SOU to host Las Guaracheras, an all-women salsa sextet from Cali, Colombia next week. Their cultural and artistic objective is to uplift the female voice within Afro-Latin music and build a more inclusive, diverse, and respectful cultural space for all. SOU will present the ensemble in a public performance on Wednesday, April 30. The ensemble will also visit two high schools and do a presentation for 250 kindergarten and first-grade students in a field trip to the SOU campus.
In other exciting news, El Mercadito will take place at Britt on September 13 in partnership with Coalitión Fortaleza. What began as a response to the Almeda Fire and its impact on local entrepreneurs, Coalitión Fortaleza now holds quarterly El Mercadito events at various locations. This will be the first held at Britt.
El Mercadito is a vision to create more spaces to gather and celebrate culture through food, music, art and activities. Since its inception in 2021, El Mercadito has served as a vital hub for over 50 local Latinx and BIPOC entrepreneurs and over 30 local service providers and entertainers. Each market now draws over 1,200 visitors to shop locally and enjoy impactful presentations and vibrant performances. “Those spaces make a collaboration between Coalicion Fortaleza and The Britt that much more vital for the wellbeing of our community,” said Ramos. “Our program, El Mercadito, is a way in which we are creating our own sense of belonging by embracing our culture, food, music and art.”
All season tickets are now on sale to the general public and more information can be found at brittfest.org, or from the Box Office at 541-773-6077 or in person at 216 W. Main St., Medford, Oregon. Patrons are urged to visit the website directly to ensure that their tickets are valid and the best possible price.