Artists Coalition Launches Kickstarter for Dia de los Muertos Festival

Dia de los Muertos 2012

By Ruben Hernandez

The Cultural Coalition nonprofit is kicking off a fundraising campaign to create the Día de los Muertos PHX Festival, an interactive, multi-generational, and participatory cultural immersion event blending traditional Mexican experiences with a twist of Southwestern flavor.

The festival is presented by Cultural Coalition, Inc. whose board members founded the original Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festival in Arizona 33 years ago. The festival takes disappearing folk traditions and reinterprets them, creating new and innovative ways to address important social issues such as accepting death while celebrating life, and encourages collaborations between different cultures, local government, businesses and community artists. 

“By partnering with various community and arts organizations, we are better able to serve the public and enhance the lifestyles of thousands of people,” says Carmen Guerrero, executive director of Cultural Coalition. She and her husband Zarco Guerrero staged the first Día del los Muertos festival in Mesa in 1980.  “The Festival serves local artists by showcasing their talents, artistic expressions and crafts, and creates an annual venue for them to earn a living and contribute to the regional economy.”

“We are planning to produce a festival that is unique, exclusive and distinguished from the many other celebrations in our state.  Our vision includes developing the annual Día de los Muertos PHX Festival to be a destination event, eventually drawing attendees from across the country.”

The Kickstarter campaign begins on Wednesday, Sept. 18 and will end on Thursday, Oct. 17. The goal is to raise $6,000 to stage a festival Oct. 27 in Margaret Hance Park in downtown Phoenix that will serve 6,000 attendees in 2013, and our goal is that each year this festival will become the largest Latino/Native American festival in Maricopa County presenting culturally relevant entertainment for all ages.  

Public demand for this Day of the Dead events have increased festival financial needs to a level where the artists are asking your support to keep the Día de los Muertos PHX Festival grassroots, community-based and free for all to attend.

Through innovative musical and dance performances, children’s art activities, an artists’ Mercado, and a traditional Candlelight Procession at sunset, the Cultural Coalition production team, participating art nonprofits and volunteers will create an experience that instills a sense of history, pride and knowledge about Indo-Latino cultural roots and artistic expressions to Arizona’s multicultural residents.

However, as with all fundraising campaigns on Kickstarter, once the campaign starts the clock is ticking toward the deadline of Oct. 18.  Kickstarter.com is a fundraising tool for artists and entrepreneurs to gather financial and other support needed to complete a project.  Under Kickstarter guidelines, the campaign must reach its funding goal before the deadline or no money changes hands and all money pledged is returned.

“People can pledge at different levels and receive great gifts as a thank you for their support, from original jewelry to mask-making workshops conducted by internationally known mask-maker Zarco Guerrero,” Carmen says.

The $6,000 raised on Kickstarter will go towards covering:

• Park fees
• Professional sound system
• Stage
• Insurance
• Other operational costs

 “People and organizations can help us be successful on reaching our goal by donating, then sharing our campaign on your social media and communication channels. Tell your family and friends. Your direct participation will enhance the appreciation of Arizona’s rich Indo-Latino heritage by our whole community,” Carmen Guerrero says.

 To donate to Día de los Muertos PHX Festival, visit http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/714494847/dia-de-los-muertos-phx-festival

or visit Cultural Coalition’s websites at www.diadelosmuertosphx.com or www.facebook.com/culturalcoalitionaz

 ABOUT CULTURAL COALITION, Inc.

Founded in 1996 by Zarco Guerrero and his wife Carmen, Cultural Coalition has been the producing organization for festivals, theater, music concerts, and community events in Guadalupe, Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, and the west Valley. For more information, visit www.culturalcoalition.com