Phoenix Center for the Arts and Spirits of Mexico Festival Launch Two‑Week Community Art & Crafts Series Honoring Seri Culture and Celebrating 50 Years of Phoenix–Hermosillo Sister Cities
PHOENIX, AZ – February 17, 2026 – Phoenix Center for the Arts, in partnership with IMEX Live Events, producer of the Spirits of Mexico Festival, proudly announce a two‑week community arts and crafts series celebrating creativity, culture, and the 50‑year sister‑city relationship between Phoenix, Arizona, and Hermosillo, Sonora.
As part of its 2026 vision, Phoenix Center for the Arts is elevating cultural programming to match the depth, thoughtfulness, and excellence long demonstrated in its arts opportunities, expanding access points for the community to learn, create, and connect through shared cultural experiences.
The workshops will be held on Friday, March 6, 2026 and Friday, March 13, 2026, from 5:30pm to 7:00pm at Phoenix Center for the Arts. Participants of all ages are invited to create handmade decorations which will be featured during the Spirits of Mexico Festival, scheduled for March 21–22, 2026, in Downtown Phoenix.
The arts and crafts sessions draw inspiration from the Seri (Comcaac) people of Sonora, honoring their deep ties to the desert, the Sea of Cortez, and their rich artistic traditions. Participants will create ribbon-based art and dream catchers that reflect Indigenous techniques, symbolism, and communal expression.
No prior art experience is required. Materials are provided, and the sessions are designed to be family‑friendly, intergenerational, and community‑centered. All artwork created will contribute to the visual experience of the Spirits of Mexico Festival.
“This initiative embodies everything we value at Phoenix Center for the Arts,” said Angelique N. Kane, Executive Director. “By weaving cultural learning with hands‑on creativity, we’re inviting our community to slow down, make meaning together, and honor the connections that unite our region across borders.”
The Spirits of Mexico Festival will officially launch on March 17, 2026, with a special screening of the Mexican feature film La Arriera at the Third Street Theater at Phoenix Center for the Arts. Presented in partnership with the Mexican Consulate as part of its Bimonthly Cultural Program, the event includes a brief post‑film community conversation.
La Arriera (2025), directed and produced by Isabel Cristina Fregoso, is a Spanish‑language drama set in the 1930s Sierra of Jalisco. The 1h 43m feature follows a young girl who disguises herself as a muleteer in search of her father, embarking on a transformative journey that explores identity, gender, memory, and personal freedom.
Kickoff Event Schedule – March 17
4:00 – 4:30 PM | Press Conference & Festival Launch
4:30 – 4:45 PM | Transition / Guest Seating
4:45 – 6:28 PM | Film Screening
6:28 PM | Closing & Informal Conversation