RI
Lydia is the founder of the Puerto Rican Institute of Arts and Advocacy, Inc. (PRIAA) and founder of Yoruba 2, an award-winning, nationally recognized traditional Puerto Rican music group. The group is known for performing Puerto Rican folk music genres such as bomba, plena, and other Caribbean rhythms. She serves as the artistic director of the Cultural Heritage Center, the only center where Afro-descendant and Puerto Rican music merge into a single, cohesive practice. The practice of woodcarving Puerto Rican saints and vegigante mask-making flows. Lydia promotes projects and ideas that advance leaders in the arts.
Lydia has spent the last thirty-three (33) years as a performer and cultural educator/activist in the United States, Puerto Rico, Cuba and has been recognized as a presenter, artist producer, wood carving artisan, paper maché mask making, and as a great asset in the RI community. Her work has been passed on to new generations and is in high demand by State, Regional and National Arts Organization.
The Institute of Puerto Rican Culture (ICP) of Puerto Rico specifically asked Ms. Pérez to represent the beauty of the culture of the Island of PUERTO RICO at the 2019 Conference of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASSA), as example of Puerto Rican folklore. Mrs. Perez, also was invited to the National Centers for Technology Transfer in Hispanic and Latino Mental Health, sponsored by the “Central University of Puerto Rico for the Caribbean”-2023, as an example of our BORICUA traditions.
On October 30, 2021, Lydia brought the Cultural Heritage Center (CHC) to the City of Pawtucket, where Afro-descendant exchange comes to life.
NEFA joined the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to announce that 112 organizations, including 13 from New England, have been recommended for awards under a new pilot program called ArtsHERE. RISCA reported that the only recipient in Rhode Island is the Pawtucket Puerto Rican Institute for the Arts and Advocacy, Inc. This arts and advocacy organization was selected from over 4,000 applicants nationwide.
On October 30, 2025, PRIAA will celebrate thirty-four (34) years of excellent work and four years at the Cultural Heritage Center. It is noteworthy that three years after the Center's opening, Lydia receives the 2025 Education and Community Impact Award from the City of Pawtucket.
Institution/Business Type:
Artist / Creative (Individual)
Legal Status:
Commercial / For profit - Sole proprietorship
Year Founded:
1998
Institution/Business Type:
Artist / Creative (Individual)
Legal Status:
Commercial / For profit - Sole proprietorship
Year Founded:
1998
Primary Discipline:
Multi-DisciplinaryAdditional Disciplines:
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Venues for Rent: Centro de la Herencia Cultural
Venues for Meeting Room /Rehearsal & Artist performanceVenue Phone: 401-935-1631Venue Address: 1005 Main St. Pawtucket, RI 02680Venue Website: priaa-ri.orgVenue Seasons: Spring, Summer, Winter, FallVenue Features: Exhibition, Community outreach meetingVenue Capacity: 50Venue Fee Range Minimum: $200 ( members $100.00)Venue Fee Range Maximum: $600 ($350.00)Venue Accessibility: Facility is physically accessible for allProfessional Associations:
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$650 - $2,500.00Teaching Settings:
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$650 - $2,500.00NEST Eligible Artist
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$1,800 - $3,000State of Residence:
Rhode IslandMinimum Number of Performers:
3Maximum Number of Performers:
7