Written by Chanel Cirillo
Photos by Phoebe Montague Photography and Peter Ruprecht Studios (including cover photo)
Where the crystal Caribbean meets the Yucatan jungle along the sunny coast of Mexico, the transformative event Art With Me returns to Tulum for its second year. Just 90 minutes south of Cancun, the festival spans over five days from April 24-28, taking place in some of Tulum’s most exquisite venues, hotels, restaurants, and premiere locations. Atypical from the giant stage productions or overwhelming crowds usually associated with festivals, Art With Me is curated by locals who love and live by the land. More than just a destination festival- it is a festival based on community, growth, and the nature of this planet that binds us all together. It strives to not only promote nature sustainability, but environmental appreciation, education, and protection through all forms of art.
Art With Me is the ultimate event of Mexico for individuals of different backgrounds to come together, create, learn, and explore the world within and around us. Over the course of five days, you will stimulate your senses through local and international collaborations. Musical acts and DJ’s such as Bob Moses, Monolink, YokoO, and many more will be providing the soundtrack. Thought provoking panels take place during the day discussing art, the environment, sustainability, and more. Incredible interactive art installations hug the city, along with 100+ art exhibits on display, allowing attendees to experience visual art on a scale like never before. Top Mexican chefs curate exclusive tastings and pop-ups designed for special and unique dining experiences. Acro yoga, aerial silk, dance, hoop, and other flow classes are offered to connect the body, mind, and spirit. Local Indigenous performances, spiritual teachers and healers, virtual reality, eco art workshops, community garden planting, holistic wellness, and so much more is on the line-up. Families and children are even encouraged to join in and play, offering art, yoga and sustainability workshops specifically designed for them. The festival presents events for everyone to participate in, creating an inclusive space for an extraordinary, transformative experience in Tulum.
The heart of Art With Me is to promote environmental awareness and to encourage these important discussions in a fun, creative, and eye-opening way. Art With Me’s 2019 theme is “Change Starts With Me.” Through the power of community, art, music, conversation, and connection, transformation within ourselves – and ultimately the world – is possible. Surrounded by Tulum’s turquoise ocean, lush jungle, and bright sun warming your skin, the drive to value and protect the world around us grows even stronger. Art With Me is metamorphic experience created on a foundation of values that is rare in the festival world, leaving participants evolved and inspired on deeper levels than when they first arrived.