Wilfredo Hernandez
“I’ve learned how to challenge systems, my own privileges, and assumptions, and I’ve learned how to advocate for myself and others. The work never ends and is ongoing – but always in community and with care.”
Wilfredo Hernandez, who uses the pronouns he and him, is a proud queer, Latinx theatre and interdisciplinary artist, and producer. His artistic work explores themes of myth, politics, culture, and identity. He founded and led his own theatrical production company for eight years, directing a national pilot production of “Disney’s Peter Pan Jr.” for Disney Theatrical Productions and servied as the founding program manager of the Boro-Linc initiative for Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Wilfredo received his M.A. in Producing & Directing Theatre from NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study. He went on to direct the LGBTQ New Americans Oral History Project at the Brooklyn Community Pride Center, which earned him an honorary citation from the New York City Council. For the past two years he has served as the Consulting & Community Director at CultureWorks Greater Philadelphia. In 2019, he launched Communitas Arts + Culture. This national arts action lab focuses on values-driven coaching services and online learning. Through Communitas, Wilfredo fosters the development of new interdisciplinary works grounded in building community, equity, decolonization, and the dismantling of white supremacy.
what big ideas have propelled your career?
“The big ideas I’m most propelled by are those of my colleagues in the field here in Philly – the incredible artists of this city who are doing the work of real, meaningful change and worldbuilding in our streets every single day. I have held dearly to their work and visions for inspiration – which are also so exemplary of strong driving concepts of social justice, equity, decolonization, and dismantling white supremacy – these ideas have informed my personal and professional pathways deeply. I’ve learned how to challenge systems, how to advocate for myself and others, how to challenge my own privileges and assumptions and more. It’s a constant reflective practice – the work never ends and is ongoing – but always in community and with care. It’s true praxis. None of the work I have done over the past seventeen years could have been achieved without an alignment and a commitment to the ideals that real “equity” in our field offers and demands. The thinkers and doers that have informed this work are really too many to list here. Ultimately, ensuring that creatives have the support they need to dream big, feel boldly and manifest their gifts and visions is the work where my heart lives and I’m dedicated to giving it my all to join the collective fight for justice, liberation and positive change across all sectors of society. Arts & culture - you're up!”
Biography:
Wilfredo Hernandez (he//him) is a proud queer, Latinx theatre and interdisciplinary artist, producer, cultural worker and thought partner with over seventeen years of experience working at the intersections of the arts, community and social justice. His artistic work explores themes of myth, politics, culture and identity. He is deeply proud of his professional work, including founding and leading his own theatrical production company for eight years, directing a national pilot production of “Disney’s Peter Pan Jr.” for Disney Theatrical Productions, and serving as the founding program manager of the Boro-Linc initiative for Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. He received his M.A. in Producing & Directing Theatre from NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study and directed the LGBTQ New Americans Oral History Project at the Brooklyn Community Pride Center, which earned him an honorary citation from the NY City Council. He served as the Consulting & Community Director at CultureWorks Greater Philadelphia for the past two years. In 2019, he launched Communitas Arts + Culture, a national arts action lab focusing on values driven coaching services, online engagement/learning opportunities and the development of new interdisciplinary works grounded in building community, equity + social justice in and through the arts.