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Mexico City: History through
 Art and Culture

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Dates​​

7/15/2024 - 8/5/2024

Location

Mexico City, Mexico​

Discipline

Visual Art and Design​

Description

Experience a sensory journey of Mexico City exploring the artistic, historical, and cultural tapestry of this remarkable city. This study-abroad course provides a unique opportunity to witness the creative spirit of Mexico. Immerse yourself in the rich artistic traditions that have shaped the nation's identity through visits to the city's many museums, galleries, murals, and architectural wonders.

Who Should Take This Class

Any and all students with an interest in Mexican art, culture, and history.

Required Application Materials (please submit materials in a single document)

  • Personal statement: 1-2 pages 
  • Recommendation: contact information for two current or former teachers

Course Coordinator

Daniel Calleros Villarreal​ (Fresno) is an associate professor in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures where he teaches advanced Spanish composition classes and courses on Mexican culture and literature, at both undergraduate and graduate levels. His research focuses on the intersection of literature and video games, the rep​resentation of Mexican identities in media texts, and the processes through which cultural elements are articulated into the creation of representational paradigms.

I​MPOR​​TANT COURSE INFORMATION

STUDENTS WILL NEED TO BRING​  

  • Laptop or tablet 
  • Basic drawing and writing supplies (notebook, sketch book, pencils, markets, pens, etc.) 

PASSPORT/VISA

  • All participants will need a valid and current passport for travel to Mexico.
  • You must provide your passport number to Summer Arts by May 31. If you do not have a current passport, you should apply for one immediately.
  • United States citizens do not need a visa to enter Mexico. However, citizens of other countries may.

TRAVEL/ARRIVAL DATE

  • Participants are responsible for their own travel arrangements. Summer Arts does not provide any group flights or reservations for this course.
  • We recommend flying directly into Mexico City (MEX).
  • You will need to provide Summer Arts with your travel information.
  • Students must arrive in Mexico City by July 14.
  • Class will start on Monday, July 15 at a time to be determined.

LODGING

Summer Arts will offer group lodging arrangements from July 14 to August 5 (22 nights). Housing is provided by Fungi Ho​stal​ and includes breakfast. Room occupancy varies. Cost per person is $450.​

When you are notified of your acceptance to the class you will receive information on how to book your lodging.

You may also make your own reservation and payment arrangements with any hotel, vacation rental, or hostel you like in Mexico City. Please be sure you are located within a convenient distance of the course location.​

COMMON EXPENSES

The following information is for estimates only. Your individual expenses may differ.

  • Airfare (from LAX or SFO to MEX): $400-600
  • Other transportation: $300
  • Lodging (if booked through Summer Arts): $450
  • Insurance: $75​
  • Cell phone: $100
  • Food/spending money: $700

Click here for course fees

SCHOLARSHIPS

Scholarship awards range from $100 to $2,000 and about 80% of students receive scholarship assistance. Scholarship funds are only available towards tuition costs.
To apply for aid, complete the application when you apply online for admission to the course. Click here for more information.

DEADLINES​

  • Application: April 15, 2024
  • Acceptance notification: Rolling, or by April 22, 2024
  • Housing reservation and payment (if reserving housing through Summer Arts): May 3, 2024
  • Insurance payment: May 3, 2024
  • Course fees: June 3, 2024

For additional information about the course, passports and visas, or any other questions, contact [email protected].

 

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Featured Highlights

Museo Anahuacalli

The Anahuacalli (from the Nahuatl word meaning "house surrounded by water") is a temple of the arts designed by the Mexican muralist Diego Rivera. The museum comprises an extensive collection of pre-Columbian art, as well as ecological space that protects endemic flora and fauna. Rivera designed its architecture in order to safeguard his vast collection of pre-Hispanic pieces, while exhibiting the most beautiful works in the museum's main building.

Museo Nacional de Antropología

The National Museum of Anthropology contains significant archaeological and anthropological artifacts from Mexico's pre-Columbian heritage, such as the Stone of the Sun (or the Aztec calendar stone) and the Aztec Xochipilli statue. It is the largest and most visited museum in Mexico. The museum also hosts visiting exhibits, generally focusing on other world cultures.

Museo Frida Kahlo

The Frida Kahlo Museum, also known as the Blue House (La Casa Azul), is a historic house museum and art museum dedicated to the life and work of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. The building was Kahlo's birthplace, where she grew up, lived with her husband Diego Rivera for a number of years, and where she later died in a room on the upper floor. The museum contains a collection of artwork by Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and other artists along with the couple's Mexican folk art, pre-Hispanic artifacts, photographs, memorabilia, personal items, and more.  

Lucha Libre

​Lucha Libre is a popular style of Mexican professional wrestling featuring colorful masks, rapid sequences of holds and maneuvers, and "high-flying" maneuvers. It's a flamboyant, theatrical spectacle that cannot be missed in CDMX. It is the second most popular sport in Mexico, after soccer. In 2018, Mexico City granted it Intangible Cultural Heritage status. ​