Empresarios de Fiesta Cultural

The Empresario de Fiesta Cultural program supports new cultural producers, or those wishing to learn more about coordinating an event or program, from the Latino/a/x/e community. This is the second year of the program, which will support events and programs happening now through the end of December 2023.

Empresarios will receive:

  • A stipend for their time to coordinate
  • Funding to support artist fees, space rentals, supplies, etc.
  • Additional support including
    • A checklist of things to consider when coordinating events
    • Marketing assistance and event sharing through Lane Arts Council channels
    • Suggestions of community partners to work with and/or spaces to hold events
    • Assistance in navigating any permitting or other bureaucratic processes that might be barriers to event planning

The exact amounts of the stipend and financial support is dependent on the scope of the program.  Typically, stipends are around $750 and supportive fees around $1000. Depending on the scale of the event, the funding may cover all aspects of the program or be supplementary with additional funds recruited by the Empresario from other contributors (ticket sales, sponsors, etc.).

Proposal review will begin on Monday, October 9th, but accepted on an ongoing basis until all available Empresario slots have been filled. Although new Empresarios will be prioritized, we strongly encourage all interested to apply.

Application

2022 Empresario de Fiesta Cultural events:

Ven a Nuestra Casa
Laura Martinez with World Fusion Events gathered cultural makers to demonstrate Hispanic traditions centering around food, music, and culture. This event featured flowers provided by Chase Flowers and Gifts and food by local vendors.

The Block Multicultural Fest
Liandy Jimenez Otero hosted a small festival featuring a beverage garden, fashion runway, interactive film tent, photography booth, DJ, performances, craft and food vendors, and more.

Social Change through Dance
Maria Sollo coordinated a performance by Ballet Folklórico Colibrí focusing on promoting dance as a means to educate audiences toward social change.

Bilingual Storytime
Families were invited to enjoy a bilingual reading, hosted by local artist Marina Hajek, featuring folkloric tales and legends from Guatemala, including “Los animales fugitivos” (The Runaway Animals) and “El caballito de siete colores” (The Horse of Seven Colors).