Palm Beach Atlantic University closed its three-day Hispanic Heritage Festival on Saturday, showcasing Hispanic art, culture and music during Hispanic Heritage Month. The annual event is in its 17th year, and organizers say it keeps growing.
The festival opened Thursday with a contemporary art exhibition featuring artists from more than 10 countries. Visitors saw oil paintings, photography and metalwork. One featured artist, Franco Sotillo, is a visual artist who came to South Florida from Lima, Peru, 12 years ago. He said his mixed-media pieces draw on his heritage and personal experience.
Festival Director Michael O’Connor said this year marked the first time the program went beyond art and classical music to include popular Hispanic music. He said the change reflects the size of South Florida’s Hispanic population, which he described as very large.
Organizers said they hope students and community members come away with a deeper appreciation for Hispanic artists and their work. The festival ended Saturday with performances of both classical and popular Hispanic music.
