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Danyelle Means, Executive Director, Museum of Indian Arts & Culture | LinkedIn

Community Day returns to Museum Hill celebrating Santa Fe’s UNESCO creative city anniversary

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The Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, the Museum of International Folk Art, and New Mexico Arts will host their annual Community Day Celebration, titled "Gathering Seeds, Tending Roots," on Saturday, September 13, 2025. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Museum Hill in Santa Fe.

This year’s celebration marks the 20th anniversary of Santa Fe’s designation as the first UNESCO Creative City for folk art and craft in 2005. The event is free and open to all ages, featuring a day of programming that highlights how local artists and tradition bearers are addressing cultural and climate resiliency through their work. Santa Fe is part of an international network of 350 cities that collaborate to put creativity and culture at the center of development efforts at both local and global levels.

Attendees can expect live music performances by groups such as Zuni Olla Maidens (Zuni Pueblo), Felix y Los Gatos, Ailani Swentzell (Kha’p’o Owingeh/Santa Clara), Jordan Wax, and ¡Viva México!. Food trucks including Clay Pot, Manko!, and Paleteria Oasis will serve local dishes.

Interactive demonstrations and panel discussions will feature participants like Raashan Ahmad, Reyna Banteah (Zuni Pueblo), Jes Márquez, Justin Gallegos Mayrant, Jason Garcia (Kha’p’o Owingeh / Santa Clara Pueblo), Diego Romero (Cochiti), Tewa Women United, Emily Trujillo, Jordan Wax, Francisco Uviña-Contreras, Vanessa Vasquez Zamora among others. Visitors can learn about food traditions past and present, storytelling across cultures, and participate in hands-on arts activities.

Admission to the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture during Community Day is free due to support from Carmen and Mike Duffek.

"Understanding and acknowledging cultural resiliency begins with learning who our modern Pueblos, tribes, and Native nations have descended from," said Danyelle Means, Executive Director of MIAC. “We are grateful to our friends Carmen and Mike Duffek for their dedication to making the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture free and open to all for this year’s Community Day."

The event is supported by several organizations including the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture; Museum of International Folk Art; New Mexico Arts; New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs; Museum of New Mexico Foundation; Friends of Folk Art; AMP Concerts; City of Santa Fe Arts and Culture Department; UNESCO Member of the Creative Cities Network; Hutton Broadcasting.

The Museum of Indian Arts & Culture operates under the Department of Cultural Affairs with backing from the Board of Regents for the Museum of New Mexico. Its mission is to serve as a center for stewardship and understanding regarding Native Southwest peoples' artistic achievements.

The Museum of International Folk Art also falls under the Department's leadership. It houses over 163,000 objects from more than 160 countries—the largest collection worldwide—and aims to connect people through creative expression.

New Mexico Arts works with its advisory commission to create opportunities for artists statewide while promoting access to artistic excellence for all residents. More information can be found at nmarts.org.

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