The México Now Festival (MXNOW) was thrilled to celebrate its 20th anniversary from November 20 to 24 with five nights of music, photography, film, multimedia art, and a community celebration. All events were free to attend with an RSVP and took place at the festival’s new hub for 2024: Chelsea Factory.
The Mexican Cultural Institute of New York proudly served as a Presenting Partner of the festival, further strengthening the bridge between Mexico and the United States through arts and culture.
Over the past two decades, MXNOW had provided a pivotal pipeline connecting Mexico and the United States' arts and cultural communities. The festival presented over 500 artists to audiences of tens of thousands of New Yorkers, partnering with over 150 venues and cultural institutions throughout the five boroughs.
Founded in 2004 by award-winning curator and producer Claudia Norman, of CN Management, MXNOW was New York City’s first and only independent festival spotlighting contemporary Mexican art and culture. To this day, Claudia remained the only major Mexican-born festival director in New York City. Her goal was to share the rich ancient traditions and vital new ideas emerging in Mexico’s vibrant arts scene by showcasing Mexican and Mexican-American creators alongside US artists who embraced Mexican culture.
Presenting 2024 Honoree Gabriela Ortiz 2024–2025 Richard and Barbara Debs Composer’s Chair at Carnegie Hall
Mexican composer Gabriela Ortiz, hailed as “one of the most talented composers in the world” by Gustavo Dudamel, will hold the prestigious position. Known for her vibrant music that transcends traditions, Ortiz's works will be showcased in concerts by The Met Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, including the New York premiere of a cello concerto for Alisa Weilerstein. She also debuts Can We Know the Sound of Forgiveness, a multidisciplinary piece exploring contemporary issues. Her vision will feature performances by Roomful of Teeth, Tambuco Percussion Ensemble, Attacca Quartet, Ensemble Connect, and more.
Photographer Santiago Arau Presents Patrimonio
MXNOW x Morelia Film Festival: Celebrating Mexican Cinema
Fandango Jarocho Newyorkino: A Celebration of Music and Dance
Coro Acardenchado
Arts Building Bridges
Echoes from the Bordelands
Opening Night: Wednesday 20, 2024.
Mexico City-born photographer and social media sensation Santiago Arau (@santiago_arau) will present Patrimonio, a stunning collection of nearly 200 photographs (2015–2023) capturing the beauty, heritage, and culture of the Valley of Mexico. Known for his breathtaking aerial images and innovative use of drones, Arau offers a fresh perspective on his homeland’s complexity, earning him nearly 250,000 Instagram followers.
México Now Festival (MXNOW) partners with the renowned Morelia International Film Festival (FICM) to showcase award-winning short films from the past 20 years. Curated by MXNOW’s Ivette Mercado, this special selection features captivating fiction, innovative animation, and thought-provoking documentaries, presented in Spanish with English subtitles.
Fandango Jarocho: Friday 22, 2024.
It was a vibrant, family-friendly community celebration that blended the 400-year-old tradition of fandango jarocho from southern Mexico with a unique New York twist. This one-night-only event showcased music, dance, and the shared spirit of cultural connection, featuring jaranas, violins, harps, folk songs, and zapateados performed around the traditional tarima.
Coro Acardenchado: Saturday 23, 2024.
Coro Acardenchado (The Acardenchado Choir), founded by musician Juan Pablo Villa in Mexico City, paid tribute to the cardenche song—a traditional a cappella chant from Durango symbolizing the pain of love, inspired by the thorny cardo plant.
The choir, directed by Villa alongside María Emilia Martínez and Leika Mochán, featured guest directors like Tareke Ortiz and Leonardo Soqui. Known for its freestyle improvisation, body percussion, and vocal mastery, the group performed at prominent events, including the International Cervantino Festival and Mexico City’s Day of the Dead Parade.
Arts Building Bridges: Sunday 24, 2024.
Shared art experiences catalyzed dialogue, fostered empathy, and inspired collaboration. The México Now Festival celebrated twenty years of introducing contemporary Mexican arts and culture into New York City’s cultural landscape by bringing together professionals from the visual and performing arts. Their dedication to connecting the US and Mexico through the arts took many forms. Attendees learned about upcoming programs and initiatives and discovered how the arts could defy divisive politics.
Echoes from the Borderlands: Sunday 24, 2024.
In a unique experimental sound performance, author Valeria Luiselli, composer Leonardo Heilblum, and multimedia artist Ricardo Giraldo presented a one-hour excerpt from Echoes from the Borderlands. This "sonic essay" documented the histories of violence and resistance along the US-Mexico border, blending soundscapes, music, poetry, essays, interviews, and archival material. The full project, still in development, spanned 24 hours—the driving time from San Diego to the Texas Gulf Coast—and explored issues like genocide, migration, femicide, and mass detention. Excerpts had also been performed at Joe’s Pub, Harvard University, and the University of California at Berkeley.
Chelsea Factory
547 W 26th St, New York, NY 10001