Panama Mural Fest is opening next week in Panama City

Every country deserves its own Renaissance, a period of time when the arts are championed by its citizens. That’s what American street artists Disem and Dreps are trying to do for their beloved Panama with the upcoming Panama Mural Fest. From May 20 through 26, the duo will work with local and international street artists to transform the walls of Panama City into works of art.

«A lot of these areas don’t get attention,» Dreps says. «But look at what street art did for Wynwood. Once you come in and do this kind of work it brings a sense of pride to the neighborhood.»

The duo got the idea for Panama Mural Fest back in 2018. They were commissioned to paint a mural on a wall located at the bottom of a steep hill. The mural site was considered a rough part of town, but the further someone traveled up the hill, the better the economic status of the residents there. At a certain point, police officers even warned tourists not to travel downhill due to a high rate of muggings and other violent crimes.

«Eventually, the cops had to move closer down because so many people were coming to check out what it was that we working on,» says Disem, the Miami-based street artist known for his mural of Dwyane Wade in Little Havana. «More and more people now go to that part of town just to see the mural and it’s a completely different place than it was before.»

The image is framed by a neighborhood in a state of decay, but foot traffic increased in that part of Panama City. Everyone wanted to get a better look at this beautiful mural of the Embera and Kuna, native peoples to Panama, brought to life in an explosion of color.

The duo realized they were on to something. They could use street art to transform their country of origin into a hip, happening place for the citizens. The two of them approached La Alcaldia de Panama, Panama's local government, about the idea, and plans for a festival were set into motion.

«We used a lot of our artist connections made through Art Basel in Miami to fly in artists from around the world: New York, Spain, Denmark,» Dreps says. «But we also want to showcase local artists so out of the 20 or so artists that we got, about half are Panamanian.»

While street art did raise Wynwood’s status as a neat place to hang out, it has also become something of a cautionary tale when it comes to gentrification. This was taken into careful consideration when organizing Mural Fest.

In speaking about their empathy with the citizens of Panama, the duo recall an encounter with a homeless man and his teenage son, Emmanuel, whom they met while working on that first mural a year ago. Whether it was fetching paint or holding a ladder, Emmanuel would run favors for the two men. They took a liking to the kid and mentioned him by name to La Universidad del Arte Ganexa, an art institute in Panama. Emmanuel was given a scholarship to the university.

«That was the effect of one wall,» Disem says. «Imagine 30 of them.» text and picture soursc: miaminewtimes.com

Let’s meet at IMEX Frankfurt 21 — 23 May 2019! You can make appointment with TSAR EVENTS PANAMA, a HOSTS GLOBAL member  to know news and possibilities for your events  in Panama.

Tsar Events DMC & PCO, expands beyond its successful operation in Russia and Alexander Rodionov, CMP, DMCP, Managing Director & Owner had this to say about the company’s growth,   «We have opened an independent office in Panama City to help our clients with their events in Republic of Panama. It is wonderful  destination with a fast growing economy with infrastructure offering everything needed  for a successful event; from the best international hotels to unique historical venues, a combination of exciting history, to a diverse culture and 21st century modern life.»

Panama is quickly becoming a popular destination for holding conventions and international events. A modern infrastructure, which is often cited as the best in the region, direct flights to more than 50 cities in the region and 13 in the U.S, world-class attractions nearby, meeting facilities, hotels, excellent restaurants, a globalized populace, and a vibrant metropolis with more than 100 banks and exciting nightlife, all make Panama the perfect place to host first-class events.

No matter what you’re looking for…in terms of climate, budget, convenience, or anything else… Panama is likely to check all the boxes.

Panama is located at the center of Latin America, at the very point where Central and South America meet. It is home to one of the world’s fastest growing economies, which is built largely on the country being a primary provider of financial, logistic and commercial services to all the nations of the region. Its central role in Latin America is vested in its being a business friendly nation, and that is complemented by its attractive and comfortable lifestyle.

Panama is a captivating mix of the historical and the modern, the natural and the manmade, the indigenous cultures and the international.

Since Panama is historically a crossroads, people and cultures from all over the world meet and mix here, resulting in friendly atmosphere, fantastic restaurants, galleries and cultural events showcasing the world’s best art, cuisine, and more. Panama has none of the disastrous hurricanes and earthquakes that plague its Central American neighbors.