An Inspired Chat with Carlos L Montufar of Central Phoenix

Carlos L Montufar shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Carlos L, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I have started painting again!! Prior to being part of the entertainment industry, I used to focus a lot of my time on the weekends for painting and drawing and even took life drawing classes at Glendale Community College in Arizona. As I started dancing more, I gave my other talents less attention until I officially didn’t have time for it.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Carlos L Montufar and I am the founder and CEO of Phoenix World Arts Collective (501c3 non profit) based I. Phoenix, AZ. My organization produces world arts events, being performances, workshops in art, music and dance, and gatherings for patrons of our community to engage in new cultures and to bring awareness in diversity. Being that I was a flamenco dancer for many years, and working with so many diverse genres of dance, I wanted to create a collective of artists that would have the opportunity to work together and build new networks. Though PWAC has an emphasis in Flamenco, it is an open door for artists to be part of. With my experience in performance and production, I also offer support to up and coming artists help build their name and brand. The main event I currently produce is Tablao La Pinta Flamenca, a traditional flamenco performance in intimate settings, showcasing talent from all over the U.S. and Spain. Being that I too offer support I the visual arts, I house the event in a local gallery. “La Pinta Flamenca” highlights a term referring to a flamenco face and stems from “pintar” which in Spanish means to paint. This double meaning inspired me to host these flamenco events in local galleries, promoting both performance and visual arts. Many asked why I stopped performing, but in my mind, being a flamenco is more than just performing-I wanted to to carve a way for more artists to gather and create art and build community. To me, building community is more than just saying it- you have to roll up your sleeves, and invest your time and energy in creating events that are welcoming and engaging to all aspects of life. All in all, my mission is to keep the arts alive, along with the culture tied to it.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
I believe bonds are broken the moment someone begins to compare one’s own life with someone else’s. Competition can be healthy but easily becomes toxic the moment it feels like everyone is fighting for the same slice of success. Starting a collective really helps limit this idea that there is “only one cook in the kitchen”. Restoring relationships means opening the possibility for all voices to be heard and working together with the intent of keeping the same goal at the forefront. It’s not about who is doing the work, but how many are willing to push together to get an excellent outcome. Working together only highlights the value and belief at the center of any mission that one carries individually. There is strength in numbers.

When you were sad or scared as a child, what helped?
I can honestly say that my art saved me in all aspects of my life. When everything fell apart, my art was how I found my control. Being a child, always questioning my sexual identity, being bullied and growing up surrounded by toxic masculinity forced me to retrieve within. I was a quiet child, but only because I wanted to only listen to my creative voice. I found my peace sitting at my desk drawing and flooding my mind with imagination-I saw it as a safe space only I had access to. Now as an adult, it’s not hard to tune out voices that focus only on the problem. It’s easy for me to visualize how I want an event to be, especially how I want patrons to feel. Dance helped me physically manifest how I would pivot negative emotions into something fruitful and positive, and not only for me but for those observing.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
I remember the saying “those who can’t, teach” being used in reference to people who didn’t make it as an artist. My stomach always churned with this saying, because I never gauged my success by what others were doing, or by how liked they were by onlookers. I was always in competition with the person I was in that moment. I value growth and evolution and was always up for the challenge of becoming a better version of myself. My art was not all I was, but a tool for my truest self to shine. I use my art not for recognition, but as a way to reflect who I am. The world can be a very harsh place, but always wanted my art to be a lighthouse for someone in need. I have felt the blunt force of being judged and valued by how good I was, who I had studied with or how much I knew.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
All in all, I give all of my best to any project, without the expectation to be recognized because the recognition is not the reward. It’s not about me, but about US. It makes me proud knowing the connections I helped facilitate provides more work for artists. I love knowing that someone may have purchased a sole ticket, to find themselves making friends and feeling so inspired by the work I do. I love hearing from patrons that they found a gem in the heart of downtown Phoenix. How people feel is better than any word of praise, because I acknowledge my work for being so important and crucial in an environment where we are forgetting the importance of customer service and valuable experiences.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://phxworldarts.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phxworldarts
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/phxworldarts
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@phxworldarts

Image Credits
Mauricio L Maldonado Photography