About the Project

The Culture Through Art Project is an arts initiative led by HACER over the past two years.

The program was created to provide families in southern Minnesota with a welcoming space to design and paint murals that celebrate the cultural diversity of rural communities, especially those with a significant Latino/Hispanic population.

2024: First mural at St. James School
2025: Second mural at Sleepy Eye Elementary School

Our Goals

• Commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month by expressing Latino culture, identity, and experiences through public art.
• Support students in rural schools by creating inclusive and culturally affirming environments where murals reflect their heritage and help them feel seen and welcomed.
• Encourage student and family participation in community art, inviting them to take an active role as artists and contributors to the cultural life of their towns.

The 2025 Mural

Created in partnership with Sleepy Eye Elementary School and artist Anna Bjorge, this mural was funded by the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council with support from the Minnesota State Arts Board made possible by Minnesota voters through the arts and cultural heritage fund.