Centro Cultural de la Raza facts for kids
.jpg) |
|
| Formation | 1970 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Balboa Park |
| Location |
|
|
Region served
|
San Diego, California |
| Tommy Ramirez, Aida Soria, Monica Bernal, Roberto D. Hernández, Evan Apodaca, Erick De la Rosa | |
The Centro Cultural de la Raza is a special place in Balboa Park, San Diego, California. Its name means "Cultural Center of the People" in Spanish. This non-profit group works to create, save, share, and teach about art and culture. It focuses on the cultures of Chicano (Mexican-American), Mexicano, Native American, and Latino people.
The Centro helps people express themselves through art from the Americas. It is a member of the American Alliance of Museums.
Contents
What Does the Centro Do?
The Centro offers many fun classes and shows. You can learn about drama, music, dance, and arts and crafts. Many of these activities come from Mexican traditions. Some also connect to "Aztlán," a special word Chicanos use for a spiritual homeland.
Programs include Aztec dance, Chicano theater, and movie nights. There are also art exhibits, music shows, and readings. The Centro's own dance group, Ballet Folklorico en Aztlan, teaches dance there too. The Centro is also a place where community groups can meet.
The Centro's Building
The Centro is in a round building with offices, workshops, and a theater. The theater can hold 150 people. It also has a large art gallery that is 2,000 square feet. The Centro was one of the first cultural centers for Chicanos. It is one of the biggest in the Southwest United States. You can easily spot it by the colorful murals painted near its main entrance.
How the Centro Started
The idea for the Centro began in the mid-1960s. At that time, many people were speaking up for change. Activists like Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez were leading groups like the United Farm Workers. These movements led to new community groups in San Diego. People involved in these efforts saw a need for a community center. They wanted a place run by and for Chicanos.
At San Diego State University, a group called the Mexican American Youth Association (MAYA) formed. They helped Chicano students get into college and finish their studies. This group, along with the Mexican American Liberation Art Front (MALAF), saw the need for a cultural center. MALAF also noticed there were few places for Chicano artists to show their work.
Early Artists and Ideas
Alurista, a poet, and artists Guillermo Aranda and Salvador Roberto Torres were part of MAYA. They worked hard to create a space for culture and art. In 1968, the San Diego Parks and Recreation Department let Torres use an old building in Balboa Park. It was called the Ford Building, and he used it as a studio for six months.
Torres invited other artists and the Ballet Foklorico en Aztlán dance group to use the space. Soon, the Ford Building became a busy place for San Diego's Chicano artists. They officially called themselves "Los Toltecas en Aztlán." This helped them feel like a stronger group.
Los Toltecas en Aztlán had a special founding idea. They wanted to create a "Centro Cultural de la Raza." This center would be a place where their "ancestral spirit of brotherhood, justice and peace" could grow through Chicano art. By 1970, Los Toltecas en Aztlán had forty members.
Finding a Home for the Centro
The group started planning to turn the Ford Building into the Centro. They asked the city of San Diego for permission. They also talked to the mayor and other groups to get support. However, the city had other plans for the Ford Building. They wanted to make it an aerospace museum.
The city seemed uncomfortable with what Los Toltecas en Aztlán were doing. One member, Ochoa, said, "At one time there was 300 cars outside the Ford Building -- all Mexicans. They never saw so many Mexicans in Balboa Park before."
At the same time, in another part of San Diego, people were protesting for a park. This area had been a Hispanic neighborhood. Torres and other Toltecas members joined this protest, which led to Chicano Park. This protest helped show the great need for the Centro Cultural de la Raza.
Alurista, Torres, and Aranda brought a new proposal to the city. But the city still tried to make the artists leave the Ford Building. Los Toltecas en Aztlán refused to go. In October, the Chicano Federation of San Diego County helped them. Los Toltecas en Aztlán said they would not leave until they had another place for the center.
Finally, the city offered them an old water tank built in 1914. Alurista helped with the final talks. The city agreed to let them use the new building. They also gave $22,000 to help fix it up. This money paid for lights, heaters, water, and a wood floor for the Ballet Folklorico.
Opening Day
Los Toltecas en Aztlán moved into the new building in May 1971. They worked hard to get it ready. The grand opening was on July 11, 1971. Over 500 people came to the celebration. There was music, dance, and an art show inside the building.
The first mural in the new Centro building was called "La Dualidad." It was created by Aranda and volunteers and finished in 1984. Outside the building, you can see murals by many artists.
Famous Artists and Groups
The Centro became known around the world as a lively cultural hub. Many famous artists, musicians, and writers visited and worked there. Groups like Ballet Folklórico en Aztlán and Treatro Meztizo started at the Centro.
Many talented people were supported at the Centro. These include Culture Clash, Gronk, Guillermo Gomez Peña, and the Taco Shop Poets. Many of them became very well-known in the arts and culture world.
A Time of Disagreement
From 2000 to 2007, some artists and supporters stopped working with the Centro. This was a disagreement with new leaders at the center. This time was difficult for the Centro.
The Centro Today
Today, the Centro Cultural de la Raza continues to be a busy place. It promotes creative art and offers art classes. It also has many workshops for folk dance and other interpretive dance forms. You can also find classes for music, theater, spoken word, and drumming.
The Centro hosts many public events. These include art shows, concerts, theater performances, and dance shows. It also has spoken word events and multimedia presentations.
The Centro currently runs on a small budget. It has no paid employees. Only dedicated volunteers work to keep the organization going.
The Centro Cultural de la Raza has archives from 1970-1999. These important records are kept at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Directors
- 1971-1975 Guillermo "Yermo" Aranda
- 1988-1990 Victor Ochoa
