We, Bare Hands, Inc. began in 1996 as a visual arts gallery featuring Alabama artists. In time, Bare Hands also featured local performing artists and hosted a wide variety of artists in year-round exhibitions and events, all of which were primarily created and staffed by a large and beautiful group of volunteers. In 2004, we officially became a 501(c)(3) arts nonprofit.

One of Bare Hands’ featured Alabama artists, Tracy Martin, created a Día de los Muertos-inspired installation exhibit in memory of her father in November of 2003. Tracy’s memorial installation was the catalyst for the Día de los Muertos festival we facilitate each year and we count it as Día de los Muertos número uno (number one).

Since the close of the gallery in 2010, we have continued our mission through various offerings and partnerships.  Our annual commemoration of Día de los Muertos has flourished into a cherished community arts gathering and is our largest annual event, celebrating número veinte (number 20) in 2022. Over the years, it has helped fund our arts education programming, such as our long-running summer camp at the YWCA of Central Alabama and Bare Hands Art Club (paused since 2020).  It has also fostered our newer annual event, Taco Fest, which is coming into its own as a multi-faceted arts celebration.

Since the closing of the gallery space in 2010, Bare Hands has continued its mission through various offerings and partnerships like Bare Hands Art Club—the long-running summer arts education series at the YWCA of Central Alabama and the Day of the Dead inspired mask exhibit at Rojo every fall. 

In recent years, Taco Fest has become another Bare Hands community arts event that is growing and developing into a thriving summer celebration. It begins each year with preparations in late February and wraps at the end of May with the support of many dedicated volunteers and partners. 

The annual commemoration of Día de los Muertos has flourished into a cherished multi-faceted arts gathering. It is Bare Hands’ largest annual event, celebrating número veinte (number 20) in 2022. Preparation for this phenomenal community collaboration begins in early February and wraps in late November when all components are stored and all feedback is collected.  Approximately 200 volunteers and partners and thousands of community members build the festival each year alongside Bare Hands’ staff and board of directors.

We were honored in 2022 when our nonprofit status was upgraded to 509(a)(2) public charity (a special designation under the umbrella of 501(c)(3)).  As we move into the future, we are actively working to expand and grow our arts education programming and are actively seeking a new public space to welcome the community and invite their artistic expression to bloom throughout the year!