NOTO Arts & Entertainment District Receives Humanities Kansas Grant

Humanities Kansas recently awarded $12,235 to the NOTO Arts & Entertainment District in Topeka to support “Celebrating Life & Death: Dia de los Muertos Exhibit and Festival.” The festival will include a photography exhibit from the Chicago Field Museum, community ofrendas (home alters), and a series of presentations and poetry readings to celebrate Dia de los Muertos, a traditional Mexican holiday that honors and remembers loved ones who have passed away. Staci Ogle serves as project director.

"We will engage the public by offering exhibits and presentations where visitors can learn about the symbolism behind Dia de los Muertos customs and how they are passed down through generations and practiced in our own community. Exhibits and presentations will challenge visitors in their understanding about diverse beliefs and practices surrounding death and the afterlife and gain a deeper understanding of the universal human experience of mourning and remembrance", said Staci Ogle Program and Communications Coordinator for the NOTO Arts & Entertainment District.

In addition to the traveling exhibit and special programming, the NOTO district will be hosting a Dia de los Muertos festival on Nov 1, First Friday,  which will showcase the different ways that the Topeka Hispanic and Latino community come together for the Dia de los Muertos holiday. Utilizing Redbud Park and other locations throughout NOTO, the community will have a chance to admire traditional papel picado (cut paper) decorations and elaborate sugar skull designs, listen to traditional music, share stories, and sample authentic food. 

“Humanities Kansas believes that Kansas is energized by people engaging with history and cultural practices,” said Julie Mulvihill, Humanities Kansas Executive Director. “This festival will celebrate and connect people with their past and strengthen a sense of community and pride of place.”