KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – The Chicano Art Festival, a decade-old celebration of Latino culture held annually in the West Bottoms, is at risk this year after organizers ran out of funding before the event could be planned.
The KC Latino Foundation for the Arts, which has produced the festival for 10 years, is now working with local business owners to secure the money needed to move forward.
Deanna Munoz, CEO and founder of the Latino Foundation of the Arts, said the loss extends beyond the festival itself.
“It’s not just us doing it for us. We’re doing this for generations of young people,” Munoz said.
Munoz said nonprofits like hers across Kansas City are seeing less funding and fewer resources to sustain their missions. She called on the city to maintain its support for smaller Latino and Chicano organizations.
“I just want the city to continue to remember that there are so many of us smaller Latino, Chicano organizations out here, that really need the city’s support,” Munoz said.
The festival has drawn attendees from Los Angeles, Texas, and Colorado, and has provided a platform for young artists and small business owners for 10 years.
“We have people now starting to come from Los Angeles, Texas, Colorado. And they’re like, these are like the fiestas and swap meets that we have in our town. We love to have it because our young people need to know this is our culture and we’re out here and we celebrate it,” Munoz said.
Aaron Munoz, a car business owner, said the funding gap has been felt by the community.
“With not having the funding, it kinds hurts because a lot of people look forward to this,” Aaron Munoz said.
Despite the setback, organizers said they are not giving up. Local business owners, including members of the Munoz family, are actively pursuing funding to keep the festival going.
“If a door shuts, another one opens. You just gotta keep fighting, you can’t just give up,” Aaron Munoz said.
Deanna Munoz said she expects the festival to take place in early October.
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