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Pan American Musical Art Research, Inc., (PAMAR) is a non-profit organization seeking to promote better understanding between the various cultures and countries of the Americas, primarily through an ongoing and vital exchange of their music, musicians and dancers. Founded in 1984 in New York City by Uruguayan born pianist Polly Ferman, PAMAR has taken significant steps toward establishing itself as an artistic resource center.

PAMAR is a registered non-profit organization in the State of New York and is incorporated as a 501(c) 3 with the Federal government. Throughout its history, PAMAR has served as a comprehensive and inclusive art service organization showcasing the talent of many musicians, composers and dancers of the Americas. Following the boom of the Latin American Art movement, performing art venues across the United States began to present a select few established Latin American performance artists. However vast numbers of talented artist remained underexposed. PAMAR was established two decades ago to present a broader Pan American overview of music and dance. PAMAR has served hundreds of performing artists, through an ongoing presentations program in national and international venues.

 NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION

PAMAR complies with applicable Federal, State, and New York City civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sexual orientation, religious belief, disability, or sex. PAMAR does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, sexual orientation, religious belief, disability, or sex. PAMAR makes as many of its services available as possible in both Spanish and English

Mission

» PAMAR’s mission is to promote & preserve, & create awareness & appreciation of Latin American arts & culture & their roots in Iberia, Africa, & other cultures, in New York City and beyond. We promote & preserve the rich cultural heritage of the Americas.

PAMAR serves performing, visual, & literary artists eager to expand awareness of and appreciation for their work, & audiences eager to appreciate these art forms. We serve audiences often unused to participating in such events, collaborating with libraries, schools, houses of worship, senior & community centers, as well as traditional performing, visual arts, literary, & film venues. 

Our Team

 

Founder and Director of Latin Week Houston, Panamanian born artist -Raul Orlando Edwards – is the recipient of a Certificate of Congressional Recognition, Jefferson Award, four consecutive City of Houston Mayoral recognition, and multiple honors. An artistic career that began over 25 years ago, he continues to use the arts to positively impact communities in and out of Houston. A highly creative individual, he sought to showcase the many influences that make up Latin American and Caribbean cultures, leading to the establishment of FLAMART (Featuring Latin American Music and Art) in 2006, with a focus on cultural diversity and education through artistic programs. In 2008 the Foundation for Modern Music (FMM) invited him to join the organization as Artistic Director. In his first two years at FMM, he led the organization from local to internationally recognized, growing attendance from a few hundred to over 8,000. A collaboration between Strictly Street Salsa, FLAMART, and FMM launched Salsa y Salud (the country’s first and biggest salsa/health initiative, 2011), Navidad Latina (Museum of Fine Arts, 2011), the Afro-Latin Fest (2014), and others. His work has been featured in over 20 local and regional newspaper articles and over 35 appearances on TV and radio. He was a contributor in the research article SALSA: SAving Lives Staying Active to Promote Physical Activity and Healthy Eating with the Texas Obesity Research Center (University of Houston), Department of Health Disparities Research (M.D. Anderson Cancer Center) and Strictly Street Salsa (2011). Civic and artistic engagements include: City of Houston, VH-1’s movie The Way She Moves, Houston Grand Opera, Consulates of Panama, Mexico, Israel, Egypt and Italy, Houston Ballet, Society for the Performing Arts (SPA), Latin American Cultural Week (NY), Miller Outdoor Theatre, Rothko Chapel, Rice University, Sam Houston State University, Texas A&M University, San Francisco Rueda Festival, and others. In 2018 Rice University’s Boniuk Institute for Religious Studies extended him an invitation to create an outreach program designed to promote tolerance, where he serves as Executive Director for Arts of Tolerance. He is currently engaged in building national collaborations while expanding existing programs that continue to improve communities in the Greater Houston Area and beyond.

 

 

Uruguayan born visual artist Andrea Nalerio attended Westchester Community College where she graduated with an Associates Degree in Applied Science in Graphic Design/Visual Arts in 2011.   

Since 2008 she has been the Executive Assistant of Polly Ferman, Founder of PAMAR.  She is in charge of the graphic design and manages all the social media involved in Latin American Cultural Week since LACW was founded. This includes an online system by which artists are invited or apply to participate, and to track where and when and what they will perform, their technical needs, as well as a media campaign to support them.  

She also designs all the print and social media materials supporting the Binelli-Ferman Duo, GlamourTango/Aires de Mujer, an all-female program celebrating women in tango, Audrey Ross Publicity, QWW experts, among others, and in 2019 joined Knowledge Art Inc as Associate Director.

 

 

What We Do

Events & Programs

A MUSICAL JOURNEY THROUGH LATIN AMERICAN

In accordance with the Blueprint For Teaching and Learning in the Arts developed under the direction of the New York City Board of Education, Pan American Musical Art Research, Inc. (PAMAR) creates “A Musical Journey Through Latin America”. This program brings the highest quality teaching-artists in Latin American music and arts to the schools, so that students can experience and build knowledge of music and culture that they carry with them in their futures. 

“A Musical Journey Through Latin America” is a 12-week residency that includes one 2 hour teacher’s development/planning session and a series of nine 45-minute sessions with two groups per school per day, and two culminating two hour sessions in which the students prepare for and perform a “Latin American Festival”. The program introduces Latin American music through its cultural roots, instruments and songs, allowing children to learn and appreciate the great influence it has had on our culture today. 

Single day workshops, Residencies of varying lengths, and outreach performances may be customized to fit your organization’s need.

Our programs encourage kids of Latino heritage to build a deeper knowledge and pride in themselves; at the same time, we encourage and promote children of all ethnic backgrounds to acknowledge, respect and recognize the unique talents and treasures that every culture has to offer. The program is designed making standards connections and within the Department of Education’s Five Strands, allowing the classroom teachers and especially the arts teachers in the school to work simultaneously with the program on topics/themes, or with some specific cross-disciplinary instruction focusing on a common theme/concept. Bilingual program (English/Spanish) is optional.