Bring the whole family to VMFA’s Family Days to celebrate Latin American Art! Enjoy traditional dance, performances, music, artist demonstrations, and crafts.
Click to explore art activities year-round!
Past Events
2023 | Celebrate the Art of Latin America: Colombia
Generously Sponsored by
During our Celebrate the Art of Latin America: Colombia Family Day, guests explored the landscape, culture, traditions, and art of Colombia. Guests enjoyed Colombian coffee tastings with Blanchard’s Coffee Roasting Company and watched engaging music presentations and dance performances by the Latin Ballet of Virginia and Tradición Dance Company. Guests also took part in demonstrations with artists Diego Sanchez and Alfonso Pérez Acosta, and participated in art activities and the collaborative Community Map Project with the Virginia Hispanic Foundation.
Art Activities: Shape a Sombrero Vueltiao, Paper Lantern Making with 1708 Gallery, Make a Tissue Paper Orchid & Butterfly, Construct a Guacharaca Instrument, Create a Woven Vessel, and Stamp a Golden Pendent
2022 | Celebrate the Art of Latin America: El Salvador
Generously Sponsored by
Our 2022 VIRTUAL Family Day event was a celebration of the art, culture, and landscape of El Salvador! As a kick-off to National Hispanic Heritage Month at VMFA, this free virtual event included art activities, workshops, collaborative projects, performances, and more.
Art Activities: Create a Lantern!, Create Your Own Vessel, Build a Volcano
2021 | Celebrate the Art of Latin America: Puerto Rico
Generously Sponsored by
Celebrate the art, culture, and traditions of Puerto Rico at VMFA’s Celebrate the Art of Latin America: Puerto Rico Family Day event. Watch performances by the Latin Ballet of Virginia and Entre Puerto Rico y Richmond, and discover some fun facts about Puerto Rico you might not have known! Participate in virtual gallery activities, and hands-on art activities such as shaping your own pendant, creating a lantern, and so much more!
Art Activities: Shape your own Pendant, Create a Bioluminescent Jellyfish, Construct a Guiro, Create a Lantern with 1708 Gallery
2017 | Celebrate the Art of Latin America: Caribbean
Generously Sponsored by
Enjoy the art, culture, and traditions of countries in the Caribbean at VMFA’s Celebrate the Art of Latin America: Caribbean Family Day event. Watch performances by the Latin Ballet of Virginia and Agua Dulce Dance Company, and enjoy the upbeat sounds of DJ Peluche Productions. Participate in dance workshops, language interactives, and hands-on art activities such as making a Caribbean mask, maraca, and so much more!
Art Activities: Create a Caribbean Bird, Design a Tap Tap Bus,, Construct a Puerto Rican Mask of Vejigante, Ancient Taino Zemis, Petroglyphs and Pendants, Create a Caribbean Instrument: Maracas, Face Painting, Tap Tap Bus Selfie Station in Collaboration with Milk River Arts, Caribbean Flower Community Project with The Valentine
2016 | Celebrate the Art of Latin America: Central America
Generously Sponsored by
Celebrate the art, culture, and traditions of countries in Central America. Through art activities, performances, and artist demonstrations, discover the history and culture of this diverse region. Learn about Mayan pottery, craft a “gold” pendant, and more. Performances feature the Latin Ballet of Virginia and La Palma Panamanian dancers. Participate in a parade at the conclusion of this festive family day!
Art Activities: “Gold” Animal Pendants, Mayan Pottery, Rainforest Film, Guatemalan Dolls with Stuff Redux, Rainforest Frog Figures, Lantern Making with 1708 Gallery, Guatemalan Weaving, Nuestras Historias: Latinos in Richmond interactive map, Milk River Arts Community Weaving, Oscar Contreras of WBTK Radio, Pedestrian Parade
Past Performers, Demonstrators, and Community Partners
Marimba Linda Xelanju: The melodic sounds of the marimba from the Giron family brings you the festival music of Guatemala, southern Mexico, Honduras, and El Salvador.
La Palma: Enjoy traditional Panamanian dress and dance including the couple’s dance “El Punto” with La Palma of Richmond.
The Latin Ballet of Virginia: The Latin Ballet of Virginia celebrates Central America with Fiesta del Sol, representing the traditions and culture of Guatemala, Belize, Costa Rica, and the south of Mexico.
Alicia Diaz and the Agua Dulce Dance Company: Watch as the Agua Dulce Dance Company, performs a piece inspired by imagery and archetypes of mother, lover, and warrior evoked by different deities present in the Caribbean African diaspora.
Héctor “Coco” Barez: Percussionist Hector “Coco” Barez and Alicia Díaz, Assistant Professor of Dance at the University of Richmond and co-director of Agua Dulce Dance Theater, perform a dialogue between tradition and contemporary influences derived from Bomba, an Afro-Puerto Rican music and dance form
Peluche Productions: Join us in the Marble Hall as we enjoy the upbeat Latin sounds of DJ: Peluche Productions. With roots in the Dominican Republic, Peluche Productions, brings the sounds of the Caribbean and Latin America to the local community and beyond.
Pan in Harmony: The Sounds of the Caribbean: Listen to the vibrant rhythms of the steel drums and explore the history and background of the instrument and its sound!
Alfombras de Aserrín, Colorful Sawdust Carpets: A Guatemalan Tradition: Watch as Maya artist Ubaldo Sanchez demonstrates the ephemeral art form of alfombras, or sawdust carpets, a Central American tradition performed during religious and secular celebrations.
Olandina-Hernandez: Artist Olandina Hernandez of the Weaving for the Future Coop demonstrates the traditional art form of back-strap loom weaving.
Latin Vintage Dance Workshops and Demonstrations: Participate in Latin Dance workshops followed by demonstrations with the Richmond – based Latin Vintage dance company!
Lisa Zajur and the Virginia Hispanic Foundation: Participate in interactive games such as Simon Says (Simon Dice) and Twister while learning conversational Spanish with Spanish Academy & Cultural Institute, and Lisa Zajur, Director & Coordinator of the Passport to Education Programs with the Virginia Hispanic Foundation.
French language workshop with Caribbean Influences: Participate in interactive French workshops where you will learn simple French words and Francophone stories, as portrayed through Caribbean poetry, stories, and fables. In this interactive workshop, guests are invited to use illustrate their own stories and create butterfly masks, inspired by Caribbean culture. Workshops are presented by local World Language Consultant and ESL Teacher, Nirva Vernet.
1708 Gallery: Make your own tin lantern inspired by Mexican folk art
SCRAP RVA: Join SCRAP RVA as they facilitate art activities with recycled materials. SCRAP RVA is a donation-based creative reuse store and donation center whose mission is to inspire creative reuse and environmentally sustainable behavior by providing educational programs and affordable materials to the community.
Milk River Arts Community Weaving: Join the artists of Milk River Arts to make a large-scale community weaving.
The Valentine: Nuestras Historias: Latinos in Richmond: The Valentine, in collaboration with partners from the Richmond Public Library, Sacred Heart Center, and the University of Richmond is undertaking a collecting project to explore, understand, and incorporate Latino history into the fabric of Richmond. Come learn and participate!
Oscar Contreras of WBTK AM 1380 Radio: Look for Oscar Contreras of WBTK Radio Poder with a remote broadcast of the event!
