MECA Day of the Dead Festival: Honoring Our Past, Celebrating Our Future

October 30 & 31
11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.

This November 1st and 2nd, MECA proudly presents MECA Day of the Dead Festival: Honoring our Past, Celebrating Our Future. Día de los Muertos is a traditional Latin American holiday that honors and celebrates the lives of family and friends who have gone before us. Different countries celebrate Día de los Muertos in their own unique way. The common theme that runs through the two-day celebration, traditionally held November 1 and 2, is the belief that the dead return home, visit loved ones, and feast on their favorite foods. A playful mockery of death and a reaffirmation of life are demonstrated through music, dance, theatre, and visual arts. MECA's event features Día de los Muertos celebrations from throughout Latin America, with an altar exhibit competition, foods from Latin American countries, and vendors selling authentic Latin American Día de los Muertos arts and crafts. This festival truly is a community cultural event celebrating our ancestors and Latin American traditions. MECA Day of the Dead Festival: Honoring Our Past, Celebrating Our Future is held at MECA's colorful, art-filled campus located at the nationally recognized historic Dow School in Houston's Old Sixth Ward.

The event will provide a unique opportunity for those unfamiliar with this tradition to learn how countries throughout the Latin American world celebrate this day, which is commonly known in other cultures as All Souls Day. The enclosed material tells some of the history of this celebration and also of some of the wonderful traditions that MECA will observe during these two days. MECA is requesting your support to help make this event a success.

Since 1977 MECA has grown from a small community organization to a large multicultural arts center that serves thousands of students annually and is recognized across the country for the quality of its program. MECA students have the advantages of multicultural and classical arts education, recreation, support services headed by a Licensed Master Social Worker, academic assistance in the form of tutoring, mentoring, school advocacy, SAT preparation, and assistance with college selection, enrollment and financial aid. The social services aspect of MECA's program sets us apart from other arts organizations in Houston and is an important part of MECA's mission.

MECA's success stories are many. Some of our students have gone on to the finest universities in the land, often on scholarship in the art form to which they have been introduced right here at MECA. Our students have pursued higher education at such institutions as The Julliard School of Music, Carnegie Mellon University, American Musical and Dramatic Acting Academy, Rice University, The University of Texas and University of Houston to name only a few. MECA also awards an annual art scholarship to one of our deserving high school seniors and a general scholarship to all MECA high school seniors. Other students have had the opportunity to travel the world and learn about other countries, such as Costa Rica, Cuba, Ireland, Italy, France, and México.

We invite you to join us in celebrating MECA's past success and its continued growth by having an artist booth at MECA Day of the Dead Festival: Honoring Our Past, Celebrating Our Future.

Sincerely,

Alice E. Valdez              Art DeLeon
Executive Director         President and Treasurer

Festival Artist Booth Form

October 30 & 31 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
MUST BE ORIGINAL WORK WITH ARTIST PRESENT

*Artists must attend both days
*Grass, asphalt, and concrete surfaces
*Tables, chairs, umbrellas, & other equipment must be supplied by the vendor and may not extend outside the 10'x10' assigned space.
*Electricity is not provided.
*Space rentals are for 2 days only. No single days allowed. Booth locations will be selected and mailed to you with move in instructions after October 15th.
*Booth fees for artists accepted to participate are nonrefundable. If you are unable to participated in the event your booth fee will not be refunded one you are accepted as a vendor.
*Load in Saturday at 9:00 a.m.
*Load out Sunday at 6:00 p.m.
*Deadline: October 1st 2004

$100 Fee for 10' X 10' Space
$125 Fee for Guaranteed Corner Booth Space (only 6 available)
All tents must be professional quality and weighted properly on all four corners
  to insure stability.
MECA is not responsible for supplying tents to artists.
Double Booth Space is Available
Enclosed is a check in the amount of ________________
Please make checks payable to MECA

Please list your name as you wish it to appear in the Official Festival Guide. Deadline for inclusion in Official Festival Guide is October 1st.

Name: ___________________________________________

Art Medium______________________________________

Address:____________________________________________________________

City, State, and Zip: ________________________________________________

Day Phone: (____)____________________

Evening Phone:(___)__________________

Fax:(___)_____________

Email:__________

Eligible Media: clay, drawing, fiber, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media 2D, mixed media 3D, pastels, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, textiles, and watercolor.

Photographic slides and/or prints must be submitted with application. No exceptions. Do not send samples of art.

Release: applicant's signature on this application releases and forever discharges MECA, the City of Houston, Harris County, all sponsoring organizations, and their elected officials, directors, employees, agents, and volunteers from any responsibility, personal liability, or claims of loss or damage arising out of or in conjunction with participation in MECA Day of the Dead Festival: Honoring Our Past, Celebrating Our Future. MECA is not responsible for any injury sustained by exhibitors, patrons, or guests. Applicant stores and exhibits applicant's artworks at applicant's own risk.

Artistic Control: by signing this application, applicant agrees that slides/prints submitted for review are representative of work to be exhibited and recognizes that MECA retains the right, at its sole discretion, to advise applicant of any work that does not meet the standards of the festival. Applicant further agrees to immediately remove any such work from applicants exhibit. Failure to do so may result in applicant's removal from the MECA Day of the Dead Festival: Honoring Our Past, Celebrating Our Future and may result in applicant being prohibited from future participation.

Texas Sales Tax Information 800-252-5555
Tax rate is 8.25%

I have read and agree with the participation agreement above.

Signature:___________________________________________________

Deadline for applications is October 1. There is a $25.00 late fee for applications received after October 1.

MECA is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Please return this form By fax to 713-802-9403 or mail to MECA - 1900 Kane - Houston, TX 77007
Please visit MECA online at www.meca-houston.org. MECA's website is generously designed, hosted, and maintained by Jimmy Castillo.

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MECA Day of the Dead publicity plan available upon request. For more information contact Nathan Cernosek, Clarissa L. Valdez, or Emily Zermeno at 713-802-9370.