Taller Puertorriqueño's Spring Fundraiser
El Mercado: A Latino Art Market
Saturday, May 10th, 2025 | 11am - 2pm
Join Us for a Celebration of Art, Culture, and Community!
Spring is in the air, and Taller Puertorriqueño is excited to invite you to El Mercado: A Latino Art Market, our annual spring fundraiser supporting the future of our Education Programs.
This event will showcase the vibrant works of talented Latine artists from the Philadelphia area, including paintings, prints, jewelry, textiles, and much more. It’s the perfect opportunity to find unique pieces for your home or to support a local artist. And that’s not all—attendees can also enjoy:
- Artisan Market: Browse and shop an array of stunning handmade art and crafts. Just in time for Mother’s day!
- Food Trucks: Enjoy delicious local bites and beverages while you shop.
- Community Vibe: Meet and connect with local artists and fellow art lovers.
- Music and Performances: Enjoy live performances by local musicians.
- Interactive Art Stations: Make your own print and unleash your creativity.
Entry to this event is FREE but we encourage a suggested donation of $5 – $10
Support Taller’s Education Programs
El Mercado is more than just an art market—it’s a fundraiser for Taller Puertorriqueño’s Education Programs, which provide vital arts education, cultural programs, and community resources for underserved families, youth and people of all ages in Philadelphia. Your support helps ensure we can continue offering these critical services that empower our community through creativity and learning.
When you participate in El Mercado, you’re not just shopping for beautiful artwork—you’re helping to fund art programs that enrich the lives of youth and families in Philadelphia. Your attendance and generous donations help Taller Puertorriqueño provide much-needed resources for community-based education, cultural workshops, and more.
Call for Artists
We are seeking 20-25 Latine artists to showcase their work at El Mercado. The planning committee will carefully review all submissions to ensure a diverse and high-quality representation of local talent. Accepted artists will be notified by April 25, 2025 at the latest.
Application Information:
Application Deadline: April 18, 2025
FEE: $40.00 (Payment is not required until you are accepted, but must be received by May 2, 2025, at the latest). The fee covers the cost of your table and includes one (1) table and two (2) chairs for your display. Please note that this is an indoor event.
Submit your application by April 18, 2025. To apply, please complete the application form below.
For more information or questions, please contact Daniel Melendez at dmelendez@tallerpr.org. We look forward to showcasing your work and celebrating the vibrant Latine artistic community in Philadelphia at El Mercado!
Interested in sponsoring our event? Contact Erikka Goslin at egoslin@tallerpr.org for more information.
Meet our Presenters and Panelists
Symposium | Saturday, February 22 from 9:00am to 4pm
Presentations by:
Manuel Julio Duran Méndez
PhD Candidate, Latin American and Caribbean Studies Center, Chair of the DC AfroLatino Caucus
Mr. Mendez’s passion for supporting positive youth development and the issues that plague the people of the African Diaspora are ever apparent themes in his pursuit for affecting progressive change in his community. Currently as the chair of the DC AfroLatino Caucus, Mr. Mendez’s goal is to unite “black and brown” people of the Washington metropolitan area.
Tukufu Zuberi
Professor of Sociology , The Lasry Family Professor of Race Relations, University of Pennsylvania Dr. Tukufu Zuberi is the Africana Studies Interim Department Chair, Lasry Family Professor of Race Relations, and Professor of Sociology and Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. He is dedicated to bringing a fresh view of culture and society to the public through various platforms such as guest lecturing at universities, television programs, and interactive social media. Currently, he works on human rights initiatives by participating in public speaking engagements, international collaborations with transnational organizations, and individuals dedicated to human equality. Dr. Zuberi’s research focuses on Race, African and African Diaspora populations. He has been a visiting professor at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda and the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. He currently serves as the Chair of the Department of Sociology at the University of Pennsylvania. He has also served as the Chair of the Graduate Group in Demography, the Director of the African Studies Program, and the Director of the Afro-American Studies Program. In 2002, he became the founding Director of the Center for Africana Studies, and he has also served as the Faculty Associate Director of the Center for Africana Studies. Dr. Zuberi is the writer and producer for African Independence, an award-winning feature length documentary film that highlights the birth, realization, and problems confronted by the movement to win independence in Africa. The story is told by channeling the voices of freedom fighters and leaders who achieved independence, liberty and justice for African people. With this and other documentary film projects, Dr. Zuberi is dedicated to bringing a critical, creative vision not typically seen or heard on the big and small screen. Born Antonio McDaniel to Willie and Annie McDaniel, and raised in the housing projects of Oakland, California in the 1970s, he embraced the name Tukufu Zuberi - Swahili for "beyond praise" and "strength." He “took the name because of a desire to make and have a connection with an important period where people were challenging what it means to be a human being."
