About Arte Aqua Viva

Arte Aqua Viva birthed from the need to uplift communities of color and engage them in artistic experiences that highlight and celebrate the beautify and power of Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC).

Leading this movement is Pedro Rivas Lopez. Theatre transformed his life and uplifted him to believe in himself and since 2007, he has engaged communities across California in the process of creating transformative artistic experiences. Arte Aqua Viva has devoted to impacting communities and the lives of those individuals who have been oppressed by systemic racism. Pedro resides in East Palo Alto and serves surrounding communities.

Arte Aqua Viva initiatives

Project Uplift is an initiative that offers an opportunity — a breath of fresh air — for aspiring visual and performing artists living in the Silicon Valley and other rural areas of the country with limited resources. This program seeks to Uplift talent that has gone unseen, due to financial hardships or other limitations that have disabled one to produce and share their creative talent. Pedro believes in the power of uplifting others, and therefore will invest in folks he sees would highly benefit from this opportunity.

Creative Voices is a mentorship program designed to inspire and motivate young and old minds to develop their creative voice while creating theater.

Community Transformations is an approach to engage the community in beautifying their home with visual storytelling, transform local businesses and bring art to their spaces, and an overall mission to create big change within a community with the power of art.

The Mural Project is a program with the initiative to beatify communities where art is not accessible, celebrated, or prioritized.

Interested in bringing our opportunities and experiences to you, a particular youth member, artist, community, or local business? Please contact us!

arteaquaviva@gmail.com

Meet Our Support

We are a team of BIPoC artists and community leaders, who understand the power and importance of creative expression and making art accessible to under resourced communities. We believe in the responsibility of each of us to contribute to the future of the artists by uplifting youth in the arts, especially marginalized voices. Learn more about our team below.

Founder & Artistic Director

Pedro Rivas Lopez is an Artist nacido en Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico. Pedro immigrated to the United States at the age of 5, and his family established themselves in rural Fresno County in the small town of Mendota, California. He made his debut as a performer at the University of California Santa Cruz, where he served as part of the leadership staff with Rainbow Theatre and the African American Theatre Arts Troupe. After receiving his B.A. in Theatre Arts from UCSC, he returned to his community of Mendota. His newfound passion motivated him to inspire and transform his own hometown using the power of theatre. He founded Arte Aqua Viva  in 2007, a Social Justice Art and Theater Community Organization. He has written, directed, and produced shows from the fields of the Central Valley to the concrete streets of the Bay Area. 

Today, Pedro continues to move Arte Aqua Viva through this Pandemic. Though Theatre has been a primary means of storytelling and seeking justice, this social distancing doesn’t facilitate this transformative space; but all storytellers must adapt and continue the legacy of sharing those images deep in their soul through any means possible.  His focus during this pivotal time in history has been to speak truth to power through visual work and other forms of creative expression(s). Pedro believes it is imperative we artists, especially artists of color use our creativity to fight oppressive systems that have robbed and attempted to ethnically cleanse our humanity. He believes it is the perfect time for us to reclaim our voice, affirm our beliefs, and demonstrate to the world what we as artists of color can do to help bring the transformations we’d like to see in our world. 

Pedro is currently interested in collaborating with other folks, artists, organizations, or companies who wish to create something together. Please connect with him if you are interested.