ABSTRACT

In the last two decades, Mexico has been profoundly affected by the drug war and high rates of violence. In order to diminish its negative sociocultural impact, several initiatives have aimed to use the arts for building peace and strengthening the social fabric. This chapter describes the current state of arts-based programmes for peacebuilding in Mexico and presents an ethnographic study of two community music programmes in Chihuahua, Umbral Music Programme and NUCAM Quinta Carolina. The discussion considers their pedagogical approaches, their social and musical outcomes, and hindrances and constraints to fulfilling their social purpose.