Dia de los Muertos Celebration Details

Centro de Folklor Padrinos is offering a paid opportunity for four teaching artists to lead hands-on cultural workshops at our Día de los Muertos Celebration.

Each selected artist will receive a $500 stipend, which covers both the lead artist and their assistant. The lead artist may decide how to divide this stipend. In addition, Centro de Folklor Padrinos will provide a separate budget for materials and will cover all on-site logistics, including space, tables, chairs, and access to a sound system.

If you’re an educator, community-based artist, or cultural practitioner with a passion for Día de los Muertos, we want to hear from you.

Workshop Details

• Designed for children ages 4–10, with family participation encouraged.
   
• Artists must be bilingual or bring a Spanish-speaking assistant.
   
• Artists must lead two workshop sessions during the event.
   
• The combined total number of children served across both sessions must be at least 24.
   
• Artists are expected to fully prepare their activity in advance, manage their space, and lead a welcoming, culturally grounded experience.
   

Artists will be responsible for:

• Completing all workshop planning and preparation before the event.
   
• Presenting the final workshop concept to the Centro de Folklor Padrinos board for approval.
   
• Actively recruiting participants before or during the event to meet the 24-child minimum.
   
• Providing continuous cultural education during the workshop, aligned with Día de los Muertos traditions.
   
• Encouraging participating families to complete a brief end-of-workshop survey for grant reporting.
   

This is more than a teaching opportunity—it’s a chance to preserve tradition, expand access to arts education in rural communities, and celebrate the cultural richness of Día de los Muertos. Your work will help families connect to their heritage through creativity, storytelling, and community.

The selected artist will design and construct a freestanding mural using three 4x8 panels, which will be collaboratively painted by children and families throughout the day. The mural must center on Día de los Muertos traditions, such as remembrance, family, or ancestral symbolism. As participants paint, the artist is expected to provide continuous cultural education — sharing the meaning behind the imagery, explaining the history of the holiday, and engaging families in conversation about the significance of the tradition.

Artists must prepare the mural design and structure in advance, manage a safe and welcoming painting space during the event, and coordinate transport or preservation of the finished artwork. A separate budget is provided for wood, paint, and all necessary materials.

The selected artist will lead a hands-on workshop where children decorate pre-made ceramic or paper mâché calaveras (skulls) using paints, glitter, and other safe, colorful materials. This activity must include ongoing cultural education about the significance of calaveras in Día de los Muertos — including their origins, symbolism, and connection to remembrance practices. The tone should be accessible and family-friendly while rooted in cultural authenticity.

This workshop invites children and families to create masks inspired by La Catrina, a central figure in Día de los Muertos known for honoring death with elegance and humor. Using paint, feathers, florals, and other decorative materials, the artist will guide participants through the creative process while providing cultural education on the history and symbolism of La Catrina — from her satirical roots to her modern-day meaning.

The activity will culminate in a community procession, where participants walk together wearing their finished masks. The artist will coordinate this short, informal procession with support from event staff. This role requires someone who can manage a high-energy, hands-on environment while offering meaningful cultural storytelling and guiding participants of various ages through both artmaking and performance.

In this workshop, the artist will lead families through the creation of traditional papel picado and symbolic items often found on Día de los Muertos altars, such as paper marigolds, candles, or photo frames. The space should feel welcoming, calm, and reflective — encouraging participants to explore the meaning behind each element and how it connects to honoring loved ones.

As part of the activity, the artist will provide continuous cultural context, helping children and families understand the purpose of each ofrenda item and its role in the broader tradition. Participants will be invited to take their creations home or contribute them to a community altar display at the event. This workshop is ideal for an artist who is comfortable with storytelling, hands-on instruction, and working with a wide age range in a slower-paced, educational setting.