Marigold Project Inc produces the annual Day of the Dead Festival of Altars. We continue to deliver community workshops, and ceremonies creating sacred spaces for healing, and preserving and documenting Indigenous cultural practices that are at risk of erasure. Our funding supports local underrepresented artists, performers, educators, and cultural leaders, including our Artist Fellowship Program. We also provide support for ritualists and other practitioners of healing arts. These resources allow us to continue compensating our consultants and staff. Ultimately, the grant funds sustain the Marigold Project’s work, preserving cultural heritage, creating community connections, and providing accessible and enriching experiences, all at no cost, as part of our contribution to creating a more equitable San Francisco.
Marigold Project was established in 1992 by immigrants and marginalized artists who saw the urgent need to preserve and practice ancient Day of the Dead traditions. This centuries-old tradition serves as both a means of cultural expression and a stark reminder of equality in death, regardless of one’s wealth, social standing, or societal influence. It reflects a core principle of the event, succinctly embodied in José Posada’s iconic imagery, which often depicts the ruling class as skeletons, offering a powerful commentary on the inevitable arrival of death for all.
We continuously evolve our organization through engagement with ancestral indigenous wisdom in honoring ancestors and balancing our planet with art, and cultural programs. Education and community-centered sacred gatherings are vital tools for expressing and celebrating culture. Through our work, we aim to illuminate communities at risk of cultural erasure in today’s society.