Miembros Newsletter: August 2026

A Message from the Director

The Fall Brings New Exhibitions, Programs & Excitement!

This fall will begin excitement with new exhibitions, programs, the Viva la Vida Festival & Parade and more! You are all invited to join in to enjoy, learn and engage.

In Mexic-Arte Museum’s main gallery, two exhibitions will open on Friday, September 11, Día de los Muertos: Coleccionando Memorias, an exhibition that highlights the many ways artists have expressed remembrance, identity and celebration across generations and Selections from the Collection: Juan Sandoval Jr., offering visitors a glimpse into the life of the collector whose vision, curiosity and dedication made this remarkable collection possible. Both exhibitions are curated by Luisa Fernanda Perez, Curator and Director of Programs, and both represent Mexic-Arte Museum’s decades of collecting and preserving artwork.

Also in the fall, for the 250^th Anniversary of the Signing of Declaration of Independence Mexic-Arte Museum will open Connecting Stories: Texas in 1776, an exhibition accompanied by a series of public lectures that will provide insight to what was happening at this time in the area where we live today, known as Texas. This exhibition will take place at Austin History Center.  Stay tuned for more information!

Start getting ready for Mexic-Arte Museum’s 43rd Annual Viva la Vida Festival & Parade. This event is Austin’s largest and longest-running Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) event. Presented by the Austin Convention Center, this year’s festival will take place on Saturday, October 24. Participants can enjoy the Mariposa Plaza with hands-on art activities, traditional foods, local artists, Muertos Mercado, retail booths, a low-rider exhibition and live performances throughout the day. 

In September, art educators will be in the schools teaching ScreenIt, painting murals and planning future programs such as Nuestro Estilo Summer Camp & Fashion Show. We will also welcome the Fall 2026 cohort of interns. Our internship program aims to cultivate the next generation of museum professionals by offering hands-on experience and career-building opportunities. This program is made possible by the support of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) initiative: Latino Museum Initiative Expansion Project, which is designed to provide opportunities for internships and fellowships at American Latino museums for students enrolled in Institutions of Higher Education, including Hispanic-Serving Institutions.

An immense thank you to the Mexic-Arte Museum Board of Directors, staff, interns and volunteers. At a recent Mexic-Arte Museum event, Elizabeth Rogers, Vice President of Development and Public Affairs commented, “Standing in the galleries surrounded by art, culture, history and community that make Mexic-Arte so special, I was reminded of just how much this Museum means to Austin–and how many people believe in its future. A heartfelt thank you to our amazing staff, my fellow Board members, our supporters, and everyone who joined us for this special evening. Most importantly, thank you to everyone who believes in Mexic-Arte and is helping us bring this vision to life.”

Please join Mexic-Arte Museum for all these free, family-friendly events!

Executive Director

Sylvia Orozco

News

Mexic-Arte Museum is truly saddened by the loss of Dr. Gilberto Cardenas

Mexic-Arte Museum expresses our deepest sympathies to Dolores Carrillo Garcia and the Cárdenas Family for the loss of our dear friend, Gilberto Cárdenas.

I first met Dr. Cárdenas when I was an undergraduate student at The University of Texas at Austin from 1975 to 1978 where he taught until 1999. At lunch time, Chicano students and supporters would gather at the main mall in front of the UT Tower, carrying signs to advocate for many causes including a Chicano Studies Department at UT, immigrant rights, stopping police brutality and racism. Dr. Cárdenas was one of the professors who helped shape our understanding of how we, as students and community members, could make a difference in improving education, society and human rights.

Dr. Cárdenas, “Gil,” as he later insisted we call him, would enter my life and the lives of hundreds of artists, academics, community members, education and cultural institutions for the next fifty years. Originally from California, Gil lived in several cities but chose Austin as his permanent home where he made major contributions. He was one of the earliest supporters of Mexic-Arte and, in 1984, served on the Board of Directors of the newly formed Mexic-Arte at the Arts Warehouse. He loaned many artworks from his collection for the first two Mexic-Arte Museum exhibitions. In 1986, Gil established and founded Galería sin Fronteras, Inc.–a commercial gallery in East Austin that featured the works of Chicano/Latino artists. 

Throughout his lifetime, Gil served on the Board of Directors for many organizations, including of Arts Midwest (Minn, MN), Self Help Graphics (LA, CA), The Texas Fine Arts Association, Austin, TX, the Austin Museum of Art, and the National Hispanic Cultural Center Foundation (Albq, NM), The Indiana Historical Society (South Bend, IN), the Indiana Arts Commission, the South Bend Heritage Foundation (South Bend), the Friends of the Snite Museum (Notre Dame), Blanton Museum of Art, Austin, TX, and El Museo del Barrio, New York. In 1994, he founded and served as Executive Producer of Latino USA, a half-hour weekly radio program produced at the University of Texas at Austin and distributed nationally by National Public Radio. Gil was the founding Executive Director of the Notre Dame Center for Arts and Culture. He was the founding Director of the Institute for Latino Studies, 1999 to 2012, and Assistant Provost at the University of Notre Dame.

Gil and his wife, Dolores Carrillo Garcia, built one of the largest private collections of Latino art in the world. In 2024, they made a major art donation to the Blanton Museum. His contribution leaves a legacy for future generations advancing the promotion, preservation and study of the art of Chicanx and Latinx artists. We will truly miss our friend, Gil. 

We share a lecture led by Dr. Gilbert Cárdenas, Managing Migration: Criminalization vs Legalization, the fifth lecture in the Humanities Scholars Lecture Series presented in conjunction with the exhibition, Chicano/a Art, Movimiento y Más en Austen, Tejas 1960’s to 1980’s. The lecture highlights Chicano and Chicana artists in Austin, Texas during “El Movimiento. It focuses on the impact of a disproportionate reliance on criminalization strategies for the management of migration flows across the United States and Mexican border, which has caused great harm to the flows of migrants.

Exhibitions

Mexic-Arte Museum Announces Día de los Muertos: Coleccionando Memorias

About the Exhibit from Luisa Fernanda Perez, Curator & Director of Programs

Rooted in Indigenous traditions and shaped by centuries of cultural exchange, Día de los Muertos is a celebration of life, memory and the enduring bonds between the living and those who came before us. During this celebration, traditionally observed on November 1 and 2nd, families prepare ofrendas with cempasúchil (marigolds), candles, photographs, favorite foods and personal belongings to honor and welcome the return of our loved ones. These traditions and celebrations express remembrance through objects that carry memory across generations. As carriers of energy, humanity and tradition, these objects embody the stories, values and lived experiences of the people who cherished them. By collecting and preserving such objects, museums help safeguard not only works of art but also the cultural knowledge, histories and human connections they carry, ensuring they remain accessible to future generations.

While an ofrenda preserves the memory of an individual, a museum collection preserves the stories of communities. Every artwork, print, sculpture and object in the Mexic-Arte Museum Permanent Collection reflects the people, places and traditions that shaped it. Together, these works document not only artistic expression but also the movement of cultural practices as they travel with individuals, families and communities across borders. Día de los Muertos: Coleccionando Memorias reflects on the Mexic-Arte Museum’s decades of collecting, preserving and sharing the artistic traditions that surround this celebration.

The pieces in this exhibition made their way to Austin, and through diverse programming such as exhibitions and educational activities, they became integrated into the city’s cultural landscape. From José Guadalupe Posada’s iconic calavera prints to the vibrant cartonería of the Linares family and the work of contemporary artists such as Claudia Zapata and Claudia Aparicio, the works in this exhibition highlight the many ways artists have expressed remembrance, identity and celebration across generations. By preserving these works, Mexic-Arte Museum documents not only the evolution of artistic traditions but also the cultural exchange that continues to shape Austin today. 

Mexic-Arte Museum Announces Selections from the Collection: Juan Sandoval Jr.

About the Exhibit from Luisa Fernanda Perez, Curator & Director of Programs

In early 2020, Juan Antonio Sandoval Jr. (1946–2021) donated his extraordinary collection to Mexic-Arte Museum, transforming the Museum’s permanent collection and creating one of its most significant acquisitions to date. Built over more than three decades, the Sandoval Collection comprises over 1,500 works by Latine/x artists, including prints, photographs, paintings, sculptures, popular art, publications and ephemera from the United States and Mexico borderlands and beyond. This remarkable gift has greatly expanded the Museum’s ability to preserve, research and share the artistic and cultural histories of varied regions, ensuring that these works remain accessible to the public for generations to come.

Museums often celebrate the artists whose works they exhibit, while the stories of the collectors and donors who preserve these works remain largely untold. Yet, collectors play a vital role in safeguarding cultural heritage, recognizing the importance of artists and artworks long before they enter museum collections. This exhibition highlights a selection of two-dimensional works from the Sandoval Collection, featuring photographs, prints, drawings and other works on paper and canvas. Alongside these artworks are photographs and illustrations of Juan Sandoval, offering visitors a glimpse into the life of the collector whose vision, curiosity and dedication made this remarkable collection possible.

A native of El Paso, Juan Sandoval dedicated much of his life to education, scholarship and the arts. He served as Reference Librarian and Subject Specialist for Art and Chicano Studies at The University of Texas at El Paso, where he supported generations of students and researchers. Beyond the library, Sandoval was an avid collector, mentor and advocate for Latine/x and Chicano/a/x/e artists. His generosity and lifelong commitment to preserving the artistic legacy of the borderlands continue to shape Mexic-Arte Museum’s collection and inspire new audiences to engage with these important works.

August Changarrito, Iliana “YANA” Delgado

About the Artist

Iliana Louise “YANA” Delgado is a Mestiza illustrator, painter and ceramicist currently based in San Antonio, Texas. Originally from Buda, Texas, early childhood involvement with community arts, activism and education led her to search for a deeper understanding of her cultural identity. YANA moved to San Antonio shortly after high school to pursue a BFA in ceramics from The University of Texas at San Antonio, focusing her research on pre-colonial mythology. Inspired by art movements like Chicano/a/x civil rights and indigenous futurism, YANA aims to cultivate a community which fosters compassion for the many forms and functions which connect us.

Artist Statement

“Mestizo, derived from the Latin mixticius, was used within the Spanish colonial casta system to denote a person of mixed ancestry. Within this archaic and rigid, race-based hierarchy, I continue to struggle to find grounding while navigating an America that casts me as “Mestiza.” Growing up in a suburb of central Texas, I was often confronted with the disconnect between my cultural origins and the communities in which I was raised. The remedy I have found for this complex and contradictory identity is compassion. As a visual artist, my work is shaped by both my community and my cultural lineage. I focus on Indigenous futurism as a means to question and critique the enduring impacts of colonialism. Through painting, I use the canvas to educate, communicate and illuminate our interconnectedness with the natural world. As a storyteller, I carry forward traditional narratives through illustration, painting and ceramics. My art becomes a tool for cultural healing—both for myself and for others.”

Iliana will be at Mexic-Arte Museum on August 15, 16, 22 and 23.

View Iliana’s Work

July Changarrito, Citlali Delgado 

About the Artist

Citlali Delgado is a Chicana visual artist from El Paso, Texas with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from New Mexico State University. Based in the borderlands, her paintings function to understand how she and her communities can live with, against and past the border. She attended the Yale Norfolk School of Art residency program and has work in the Eastern New Mexico University and the New Mexico State University Museum permanent collections. She has exhibited at the El Paso Museum of Art Border Biennial, Museo de Arte de Ciudad Juárez Bienal Fronteriza and the Ecos del Sol exhibition at the Museum of the Big Bend.

Citlali was at Mexic-Arte Museum on July 18-19 and at the ESB MACC on July 24-25.

View Citlali’s Work

Collections

Mexic-Arte Museum would like to showcase a recent acquisition for the Permanent Collection. Mexic-Arte expanded on the Changarrito Collection with a painting from our recent July Changarrito artist, Citali Delgado. Metamorphosis is a beautiful oil and acrylic on canvas painting depicting the evolution of La Malinche and other representations of the Mexican woman.

Citlali Delgado is a Chicana visual artist from El Paso, Texas with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from New Mexico State University. Based in the borderlands, her paintings function to understand how she and her communities can live with, against and past the border. She attended the Yale Norfolk School of Art residency program and has work in the Eastern New Mexico University and the New Mexico State University Museum permanent collections. She has exhibited at the El Paso Museum of Art Border Biennial, Museo de Arte de Ciudad Juárez Bienal Fronteriza and the Ecos del Sol exhibition at the Museum of the Big Bend. 

Regarding her work, Delgado says, “My figurative paintings are ever reframing my testimonies as a Chicana in search of grieving and growth. Always concerned with the United States and Mexico borderlands as I grew up in El Paso, Texas, my understanding of regional complexity is always in orbit. When I create, I am reevaluating the many nuances and fantasies others have of the desert, of Mexico and of the border but sometimes, I find certain fantasies to be of my own emergence. The land I belong to is to be respected for its history and then critically maintained through decolonizing, grieving and healing. I think about my site-specific presence as a maker, exhibitor and institutional participant on top of my brownness through themes of politics of representation, tokenization and erasure. Trying to take care of the people I paint knowing the artistic agency my work does and does not have, I am to uncover ways in which my communities and I can live with, against and past the border.”

The Mexic-Arte Museum is excited to have this intriguing addition to the Permanent Collection. Check out our Permanent Collection page. Please check out Citali Delgado’s work on Instagram @artecitali or website.

Education

Summer 2026 Intern Spotlights

This program is made possible by the support of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) initiative: Latino Museum Initiative Expansion Project, which is designed to provide opportunities for internships and fellowships at American Latino museums for students enrolled in Institutions of Higher Education, including Hispanic-Serving Institutions.

Meet Jose Velazco, Digital Media Intern, The University of Texas at Austin

“My name is Jose Velazco. I attend The University of Texas at Austin, and my major is Radio Television and Film with a Latino Media Studies minor.

I applied to the Mexic-Arte Museum Latino Museum Internship Expansion Project because as someone who grew up in Mexico I wanted to be able to bring my personal perspective to Mexic-Arte. I have been interested in expanding my digital media knowledge, while contributing my filmmaking skills to the Mexic-Arte team.

So far my favorite project at the Museum has been working on creating a library of B-Roll for Mexic-Arte to utilize. I have been taking photos of the 5th St. Mexican American Cultural District to see what locations will look best for when I bring my professional camera to record. These videos would be utilized in the future as digital assets for the website and social media platforms.

This internship is benefiting my career because I have been able to learn new aspects about digital media. I have been able to do hands-on work with the website and I have been learning from my supervisors on how to best update the pages on the website. This has benefitted my website building skills and I have utilized these skills to better my portfolio website.”

Meet Elizabeth Valdes, Curatorial Intern, The University of Texas at Austin

“Hi everyone! My name is Elizabeth Valdes, and I am the Curatorial Intern here at the Mexic-Arte Museum. I’m an upcoming senior at The University of Texas at Austin, where I study Global and Intercultural Communication.

I applied to Mexic Arte because I’ve become increasingly fascinated by everything that happens behind the scenes in museum curation. Curating an exhibition is such a purposeful process, and it raises questions that really inspire me: who gets to tell history, whose voices are represented and how do museums create exhibitions that are both authentic and meaningful? I’m passionate about the power of storytelling, especially when it comes to preserving and sharing cultural heritage. I believe there’s a great deal of emotional responsibility that comes with telling these stories, and I think that’s a beautiful process to be part of.

From my very first visit to Mexic-Arte, I could tell the Museum was rooted not only in authenticity but also in community. I attended the opening of Rosas y Revelaciones, and I immediately felt welcomed by the staff and visitors. I especially admired the thoughtful use of clothing and fabric throughout the exhibition. It made me feel connected to a history that I’ve always wanted to learn more about, and that experience confirmed that this was the kind of institution I wanted to learn from.

My favorite project has been researching for an installation for the Museum’s upcoming exhibition commemorating America’s 250th anniversary. I’ve been diving into primary sources, visiting other museums for inspiration and reading books to better understand the historical context. I really enjoy the research process because every source adds another layer to the story we’re trying to tell. What excites me the most is that this research will eventually be translated into an exhibition through collaboration with artists. Seeing an idea develop from historical research into an immersive experience for visitors is something I’m really looking forward to.

Although I’m still exploring exactly where I want my career to take me, I know that I want to work with museums, heritage organizations, or other cultural institutions that preserve and share history in meaningful ways. I’m seeing how much research, collaboration and thoughtful conversation happen before anything ever reaches the gallery floor. It’s shown me just how much exhibitions are carefully crafted stories that require historical accuracy, creativity and community engagement. Being part of that process has strengthened my passion for cultural storytelling and has helped me see how I can contribute to preserving and sharing history in the future.”

Meet Lauren Crumpler, Collections Intern, Austin Community College

“My name is Lauren. I attend Austin Community College, where I am finishing my degree in Studio Art.

I applied for this internship to gain hands-on experience in museum operations, collections management and archiving. After taking an art history course that focused on the illegal antiquities trade and the looting of cultural heritage, I developed a stronger interest in preserving and documenting cultural objects and artworks. Because art contains the traditions, identities and narratives of the communities it comes from, I hope to learn how collections professionals help protect and responsibly document these works for the future.

My favorite activity has been learning how to accession objects. I enjoy the organization and attention to detail the process requires, and it has been exciting to work closely with a large and exceptional collection of sculptures, paintings and prints. Being surrounded by these works has been inspiring, and it has encouraged me to think differently about my own style and creative process.

One of my long-term goals is to work in art conservation and collections management, and this internship has been an important stepping stone toward that career path. It has given me a closer look into museum and gallery operations, while developing technical skills in collections management and digital archiving. My experience at Mexic-Arte is helping to better my understanding of the work that goes into preserving cultural heritage and ensuring that Latinx art remains accessible for future generations.

One of the things I am most looking forward to is continuing to explore different sides of the art world, both as an artist creating work and as someone helping preserve the work of others. I’m currently preparing my portfolio for transfer to a four-year university, and this internship has given me a better sense of direction in how I hope to combine those interests in my future career.”

Meet Lelianna Valdez, Collections Intern, The University of Texas at Austin

“Hello! My name is Lelianna Valdez. I’m an Art History major with a minor in Mexican American and Latina/o Studies and I am pursuing a certificate in Museum Studies at The University of Texas at Austin.

I applied to the Mexic-Arte Museum’s collections internship to gain valuable experience working in a museum collection and learning how Mexican American and Latin American histories are maintained. To be able to work in a collection is a blessing to me, however, to work at one that is entwined with the cultures that I grew up in is so special to me. This gave me the confidence to apply and, fortunately, get the role. 

So far, my favorite project I have worked on is the upcoming exhibitions. For them, I have been looking through the Museum’s permanent collection for possible pieces to include. I love to see the collection’s distinct artworks and research the histories that pieces have with their artist and their collector(s). There are many artworks that I would not have expected to find at Mexic-Arte, but they make the collection extremely unique and captivating.

It has been such an honor to have this internship to learn about the importance of registrars and collections to preserve artworks and histories that the Museum represents. Mexic-Arte is unique with its collection and exhibitions, and working here has given me amazing experience working with the staff and with the objects of the collection. 

I look forward to being able to carry out my career with all that I have learned from Mexic-Arte and seeing the Museum’s growth and success into the future!”

Meet Arely Ventura, Preparator Intern, University of Houston

“Saluditos! My name is Arely Ventura, and I’m an architecture student at the University of Houston.

I applied to the Mexic-Arte Museum Latino Museum Internship Expansion Project for the Preparator role. This role entailed preparing exhibits and installations, with lighting and spatial design. I believe that architecture does not solely focus on buildings but also on spaces and narrative journeys found in museums. There is architecture in temporary exhibits with its adaptability and circulation balance.

So far, a lot of what I’ve been doing is working with the Curation team and assisting with art packaging and inventory. I’ve enjoyed learning about different collectors and seeing diverse art pieces. 

This internship has given me a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to work as an exhibit preparator and has provided valuable insight into whether pursuing a career in museums is something I would want to do in the future. 

Currently working on a personal project of my own! I’m in the process of making a wooden Kalmar-inspired CD holder. I hope to intern at a fabrication shop in Houston next year to learn more about and expose myself to non-traditional paths within architecture and design.”

Meet Aidan Montes, Graphic Design Intern, The University of Texas at Austin

“My name is Aidan Erik Montes, I attend The University of Texas at Austin. I’m in the process of pursuing a Bachelors in Fine arts with a specialization in Design.

I applied to Mexic-Arte Museum internship in hopes to gain more of an understanding of how an art gallery operates internally while learning how I as a creative can help contribute to its success.

So far my favorite project has been working on the signage and creative direction for an upcoming unannounced exhibition. Seeing all the planning that goes into an exhibition from start to finish as well as seeing how I can contribute to the team’s broader creative goals has been really exciting.

The Mexic-Arte internship has not only provided me with ample experience working in the world of fine arts, but has also allowed me to connect with foster professional relationships with and learn from other like minded Latinx creatives.

Alongside my design work I also spend a significant amount of time painting and exhibiting my work around town! If you’d like you can view my paintings on my instagram! @aidanmontes.art“

Nuestro Mundo Summer Camp

Nuestro Mundo (Our World) is part of Mexic-Arte Museum’s summer programming. This year, the Museum partnered with Austin Public Library Southeast Branch.

Students in the program focused on building and strengthening their community through art and education. Led by museum art educators, participants identified a change they wished to see in the world. Each student created an infographic poster using silkscreen printing practices, an accessible process artists and activists use to quickly reproduce images and information.

The purpose of these posters is to communicate to the public the necessity of social change in an area of importance to the students. These young artists delved into the rich history of political art and protest posters, gaining an understanding of how art has long been a catalyst for raising awareness and inspiring change.

In the Nuestro Mundo (Our World) exhibition at Austin Public Library Southeast Branch, you will see the posters created by talented young artists of the Dove Springs community. Accompanying their posters are reproductions of artwork in Mexic-Arte’s permanent collection. We encourage everyone to look closely at their work and reflect on social issues in the community.

On August 1, 2026, Mexic-Arte educators celebrated the young artists who participated in the Nuestro Mundo Summer Camp with an art reception at the Austin Public Library Southeast. There was pan dulce and juice provided by APH Community Youth Development and H-E-B. Attendees block printed and customized pencil and tote bags for the upcoming school year and participated in an exclusive scavenger hunt of the Nuestro Mundo 2026 exhibition.

Special thanks to: Austin Public Library Southeast Branch, APH Community Youth Development and Texas Commission on the Arts; Mexic-Arte Teaching Artists Monica Bushong, Kaelyn Huang and Andrea Montilva Pilonieta; Librarian Director Paola M.; Youth Librarian, Rachele Merliss; Mexic-Arte Museum Education and Community Coordinators, Jasmine Chock and Richard Alexander Greene; and IMLS Summer Education Interns Lizeth Moctezuma and Mayahuel Crane.

Nuestro Estilo Summer Camp and Fashion Show

On Sunday, August 9, we celebrated creativity, culture and community at the Nuestro Estilo Fashion Showcase! Art, fashion and identity came together on the runway.

At Nuestro Estilo Camp participants spent the week learning about indigenous textile traditions, embroidery, sewing and printmaking at the Austin Central Library. They created beautiful, unique garments taking inspiration from indigenous textile traditions in what is now Mexico, Texas and Guatemala. Andrea M P and IMLS Education Summer Interns Lizeth M. and Mayahuel C. shared their knowledge of indigenous textiles and fashion life cycles and helped participants design and assemble their huipiles, bags, scarves and more. Librarians Frida Garcia and Cristina Casas helped facilitate the workshop and helped participants learn how to use sewing machines and sew garments. 

Teaching Artist, Eric Garcia, facilitated sewing tutorials and assisted participants in finishing their garments. He also MCed the fashion show which was held in the Main Gallery of Mexic-Arte Museum’s exhibition Rosas y Revelaciones. Participants shared what they made by wearing their garments and walking on the runway and reflected on why they chose the elements they did and what they connected with while making their garments.

As part of the celebration, Mexic-Arte Museum Development Intern, Anna Gutierrez, organized a back-to-school backpack and art supply drive to support Nuestro Estilo participants and local families. Following the fashion showcase, camp participants received backpacks filled with school supplies and embroidery kits to encourage them to continue creating beyond the program and prepare for the upcoming school year. Additional backpacks and school supplies were also shared with children in attendance, extending the spirit of creativity, care, and community that shaped Nuestro Estilo throughout the week.

Thank you to Frida, Cristina, Andrea, Eric, Lizeth,and Mayahuel for sharing their knowledge and facilitating this camp for the community!

Thank you to APH Office of Violence Prevention, Austin Public Library, Institute of Museum and Library Sciences and the Texas Commission on the Arts for supporting this free program!

Tours for City of Austin Parks and Recreation Groups + Title 1 Schools Receive FREE Admission

This summer Mexic-Arte Museum invited City of Austin Parks and Recreation Groups (youth, adult, senior) and Title 1 Austin Schools to visit the Museum for a tour of Rosas y Revelaciones: Homage to la Virgen de Guadalupe. Tours for these groups were free of charge admission thanks to the City of Austin. Thank you to ESB-MACC Raices Summer Camp, Zaragoza Summer Camp and PARD Natural Resources Division Camacho Activity Center for visiting the Museum and experiencing the exhibit together!

A guided tour of Mexic–Arte Museum exhibitions provides students and adults with a unique cultural experience. Tours are an engaging way to expose all age groups to current exhibitions and a fun opportunity to learn about traditional and contemporary Mexican, Latinx and Chicanx art from the Museum’s knowledgeable docents of art, art history and cultural studies.

Tours this summer focused on the current Rosas y Revelaciones textile art and garments collection featuring over 65 artists from several regions of Oaxaca and Mexico, Jesse Herrera’s photographs of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Austin and The Origins of Medicine mural by Rafael Navarro Barajas. Through attending a tour, participants will learn about Austin history, methods of making textiles, the role of art making in communities and more. Tours are tailored to focus on K-12 education or certain aspects of the exhibition, and tours in English and Spanish are available for museum guests.

Please visit https://mexic-artemuseum.org/learn/tours/ to learn more and book a tour this fall. We are able to reimburse transportation costs for tours for these groups on a case by case basis. Please contact us at for more information.

Community Events y Más

Follow @mexic_arte_edu on Instagram to hear about community art and cultural events for families in Austin. You may be able to screen print with us at some of them! Make sure to check Mexic-Arte Museum Instagram stories.

Development

Bring Your Business to the Viva la Vida Festival & Parade

Connect with over 2,000 participants and 20,000 spectators as a sponsor. Your business will enjoy all of the promotional perks that come with sponsorship. View our sponsorship packet and contact the development coordinator, Mindy Radike, to explore partnership options. 

Be a Vendor in the Viva la Vida Muertos Mercado

Participate in the Muertos Mercado! Viva la Vida features over 20 Día de los Muertos inspired artists, artisans, vendors and makers! Mexic-Arte Museum is thrilled to invite vendors to take part in the annual Vida la Vida on Saturday, October 24!

Mexic-Arte Museum’s 43rd Annual Viva La Vida Festival and Parade is Austin’s largest and longest-running Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) event. The festivities begin with a Grand Procession at noon. Festival activities run until 6 p.m.

• All merchandise must be Día de los Muertos themed and artist made.
• Imported goods are not accepted. 

*Acceptance into the Muertos Mercado is contingent upon review by Mexic-Arte. Mexic-Arte Museum reserves the right to make final determination of vendors.

If selected, fees to participate are: 

• $120 – Artisan Vendor
• $200 – Small Food Vendor
• $500 – Food Truck/ Large Scale Food Vendor

DEADLINE TO APPLY IS AUGUST 28, 2026

Participate in the Viva la Vida Parade

Register for Mexic-Arte Museum’s Viva la Vida Parade on October 24, 2026 at noon! Viva la Vida is Austin’s largest and longest-standing celebration of the Day of the Dead every year!

Parade participation is free for community members, non-profits and the general public. Corporations and businesses are asked to give a $500 donation.

*Acceptance into the parade is contingent. Mexic-Arte Museum reserves the right to make the final determination of parade participants. The participants who are accepted into the parade will receive a confirmation email.

If you have any questions please email Amy Anderson at .

Volunteer for the Viva la Vida Festival & Parade– Get a Free T-Shirt!

For 42 years, this event has been made possible with the tremendous help from volunteers just like you! The volunteer team is made up of local organizations, businesses and families. There’s a spot for everyone to get involved. Fill out the form below to sign up for your shift. 

Mexic-Arte Museum Store

Apply to Sell Your Art in the Mexic-Arte Museum Store!

The Mexic-Arte Museum Store is excited to invite local artists to apply to the Artists in the Store Project to have their work featured in the gift shop! We’re looking for products created by artists in Austin and the surrounding area. Selected artists will have their products purchased at wholesale value and showcased in the Museum Store, helping us support local artists while sharing their work with our visitors. 

From art prints and jewelry to stickers, apparel, home goods, and more, we’d love to see what you create. We look forward to discovering new artists and celebrating the local art community! 

Past Featured Artists:

• Bieke Campos – @Artbybieke
• Tressa Gonzalez – @smittenkittentx
• Laura Clay – @lauraclayart
• Marlene Macias – @shopmootmagoo
• Nydia Salinas – @clayvalleystudio
• Sofia Villanueva – @mavah_designs
• Lindsay Gabriel – @firedartsbylindsay

Thank You Sponsors

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