The Museum of Contemporary Art Panama (MAC Panama) will host the fourth edition of its MAC Popular event on May 16. The celebration runs from 6:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. This year’s theme is “Indomitable Caribbean.”
MAC Popular transforms the museum into a vibrant meeting space. Contemporary art dialogues with everyday life there. The event brings together diverse audiences around creation, freedom and cultural exchange. Organizers describe it as a dynamic cultural platform that keeps growing.
Event Inspired by Upcoming 2026 Exhibition
The concept draws inspiration from a major exhibition slated for 2026 at MAC Panama. That show is called “Other Mountains, Those That Roam Free Underwater.” Curators Yina Jiménez Suriel (1994, Dominican Republic) and Juan Canela (1980, Spain) are leading that project. The exhibition features new commissioned works from artists Nadia Huggins (1984, Trinidad and Tobago) and Tessa Mars (1985, Haiti).
“Indomitable Caribbean” proposes an immersive experience. It celebrates the Caribbean as a territory of resistance, memory and reinvention. This edition carries special meaning. It falls during Black Ethnicity Month in Panama, which takes place every May.
The event joins the celebration of Afro-descendant heritage. It recognizes the profound cultural legacy of the Caribbean in building contemporary identities, sounds and expressions. [Translated from Spanish]
The event also coincides with International Museum Day on May 18. That date highlights the active role museums play in society. Museums promote education, community connection and social transformation.
Music, Food and Guided Tours
This activity is for adults 18 and older. Art, culture, music and gastronomy converge there. The goal is to unite an active and diverse community.
The proposal combines Caribbean rhythms with contemporary sounds. DJ presentations and live shows will keep the museum active all night. Guided tours of MAC Panama will also be offered. These tours aim to bring the public closer to contemporary art in a simple and accessible way.
They open new forms of reading and connection with the artworks. “La Popular Walkway” adds a gastronomic experience. It highlights Afro-Antillean cuisine and flavors of the Panamanian Caribbean. Tradition meets current proposals there.
Fundraising for Public Programs
MAC Popular has a clear fundraising objective. Proceeds strengthen the museum’s public and educational programs. The money contributes to access to art. It also helps develop inclusive spaces for reflection, dialogue, learning and participation.
In this edition, MAC Panama reaffirms its vocation as an open museum. The institution stays dynamic and deeply connected to its environment. It creates a space linking art and culture with the community. Tickets are available through Passline.
The museum recognizes the Afro-Panamanian heritage that shapes the nation’s cultural landscape. This connection runs deep through generations of artistic expression.