We invite artists who are interested in creating artwork that celebrates the sacred nature of Día de los Muertos (DDLM) to submit proposals to create an original artwork for our 2025 community DDLM celebrations. Cheyenne’s DDLM celebrations offer public places to celebrate and a variety of opportunities to learn about the history, traditions, and significance of DDLM.
The Cheyenne Día de los Muertos celebrations are family-friendly and inclusive of all people. Artwork must be appropriate for children. We encourage artists to reflect on their own cultural and traditional connections to DDLM when creating their artwork. Artists should consider the following goals when creating their proposal:
- Represent the cultural significance of Día de los Muertos in a visually compelling way
- Appeal to multigenerational families and people of all ages
- Represent the diversity of people, places, and cultures who celebrate DDLM.
Artists should be members of a community that celebrates DDLM. Artists of all mediums (visual arts, music, theater, dance, folk and traditional arts, etc.) are encouraged to apply. However, the winning artist must create a work of art that will work well for print and digital advertising. If an artist creates a 3D work of art, the piece will need to be portrayed in 2D so it will meet marketing needs.
Submissions are due January 1, 2025. One artist or artist collective will be selected to receive a $2000 payment to create a final work in partnership with the DDLM committee. Size and format specifications will be provided, and committee members will give feedback until a final product is agreed upon. Final artwork must be submitted by August 1, 2025. Once submitted, the State Museum, Botanic Gardens, Depot Museum, and Library will create a regional marketing campaign featuring the work.
All applications must be submitted by 11:59 pm MST on January 1, 2025. Please contact Melisa McChesney at 307-630-2573 or melisa.mcchesney@wyo.gov if you have any questions.
Funding for this project is made possible through the Wyoming Arts Council’s Arts Access Grant.
BACKGROUND
The Cheyenne Día de los Muertos celebrations have been hosted in collaboration by the Wyoming State Museum, Laramie County Library, Cheyenne Botanic Gardens, and Cheyenne Depot Museum since 2021. The variety of events offered at these institutions seek to share the cultural significance of DDLM and provide welcoming spaces for people to celebrate publicly. Each year these events continue to grow, bringing in new audiences and reaching approximately 2000 people. The success of these events is due to tremendous support from community members who volunteer their time to be on the DDLM planning Committee. Our 2025 celebration is on track to be our biggest year ever, and we want YOUR art to help promote it.
Application Requirements
CRITERIA
Projects will be evaluated and selected based on whether the application demonstrates:
- A clear connection to a community that historically celebrates Día de los Muertos,
- A unique and authentic approach to representing the cultural significance of traditional and/or contemporary Día de los Muertos traditions in a visually compelling way
- An ability to create artwork that speaks to the diverse people who celebrate DDLM, considering the many places, cultures, and age ranges of people who attend our events.
To ensure that the final artwork is an authentic representation of DDLM and the people who celebrate it, the winning artist must be able to describe how they are genuinely a part of a community that celebrates Día de los Muertos, a sacred, religious holiday.
TIMELINE:
September 1, 2024: Application opens
January 1, 2025: Application due
March 1, 2025: Winner notified
August 1, 2025: Final work submitted & payment completed
Sept 5, 2025: Marketing campaign begins
Eligibility Criteria
ELIGIBILITY
- Grant funds can be distributed to an individual or an artist collective.
- Applicants may not be affiliated with the Wyoming State Museum, Cheyenne Depot Museum, Cheyenne Botanic Gardens, or Laramie County Library either as a board member or staff member, including their families, whether full-time, part-time or contractual.
- May not be an employee of the Department of State Parks
- Must be a local artist, living in Wyoming or a neighboring state for at least 10 months of the year.
- All applications will be reviewed by a committee of six community members based on the criteria listed above.
Applicants will be notified of their application status by March 1, 2025.
Committee members include:
Nicole Cordova, leader of Las Angelitas Unidas y Los Rayos del Sol, a local dance group that shares culture through music and dance. Nicole is a dedicated member of the community who has been involved with the State Museum’s Día de los Muertos events for over 10 years. She is also on the Cheyenne Hispanic Fest Committee.
Laura Sonderup, managing director at Heinrich Marketing, Inc., a full-service advertising agency with offices in Cheyenne and Denver. Laura is a nationally recognized multicultural marketing expert and her writings have been featured in USA Today, American Bar Association Journal, Denver Business Journal and others. She is the author of the popular book, “Hispanic Marketing in the Heartland: A Hands-on Guide.”
Carol Matteson Pascal, a member of the large Mexican American Arias family whose ancestors settled in Cheyenne over a century ago, Carol returned to Cheyenne after retiring as VP of an international construction materials company, the first woman in corporate America to serve in that capacity. She has long been an advocate and activist here and across the nation in Hispanic affairs including immigration justice, cross-cultural understanding and is a founding member of the Cheyenne Hispanic Festival and the first Día de Los Muertos event a decade ago.
Jessica Fernandez-Medina, chair of the Cheyenne Hispanic Improving Strengthening Powerful Alliances (CHISPA) committee. She has been instrumental in overhauling the Cheyenne Hispanic Festival and turning it into not just a celebration of Hispanic heritage, but a significant educational and supportive event for the Hispanic and non- Hispanic community alike. Jessica contributes to the Cheyenne community on a deep level, participating in many community groups and hosting “Cuentos y Amigos” storytimes at the Laramie County Library once a month.
