Latino Center of Art and Culture

The Latino Center of Art & Culture (lcac), located in sacramento, California, is a beacon of cultural enrichment and community empowerment. Founded in 1972 by chicano students, lcac has become a pivotal institution in fostering the artistic, economic, and cultural development of the Latino community in the greater sacramento region. Our mission is to produce, present, exhibit, and engage the community in arts programming that reflects the Latino experience. Through theater, visual Art installations, concerts, and cultural gatherings, lcac aims to offer accessible arts programming, advocate for social justice, and promote cultural understanding. Lcac is located in a formerly underutilized maintenance building in sacramento's miller park. Our primary audience includes the multigenerational Latino community in the greater sacramento area, though our programming is designed to educate and engage individuals of all ethnic backgrounds interested in learning about Latino Culture. Our audiences also include local schools, cultural enthusiasts,tourists, and the broader arts and Culture community. We support local small entrepreneurs who make and sell artisan arts and crafts at every program and event. Signature programs: 1st annual oaxaca en sacramento: honrando los lunes del cerro (honoring mondays on the hill) - august 2022 oaxaca en sacramento respectfully honors the original guelaguetza celebration that takes place in oaxaca, mexico. It is a one-day event that brings communities from all throughout California to celebrate and preserve this indigenous tradition. This cultural experience celebrates a tradition grounded in acceptance,tolerance, and respect for racial and cultural diversity. Patricia alvarez, a singer from oaxaca, mexico, joined our celebration. Over 600 people from northern California attended our event. 13th annual el panteon de sacramento (day of the dead celebration) - october 2022 el panteon de sacramento is our largest program, attracting over 11,000 families over a period of three days. Da de los muertos is one of mexico's most important traditions and has become more popular in the united states. In mexico, families gather together at graveyards to honor their loved ones who have passed on. During our three-day el panteon de sacramento celebration, thousands of multigenerational families experience a cultural immersion throughout our programming, including a graveyard like the ones in small towns in mexico, our cultural presentations, and our gallery. This cultural event featured live dance and music and had over 30 community altares, dozens of artisanal vendors, traditional food and drinks. This was a free program open to the public and received support from community donations. Una pastorela in sacramento - december 2022 pastorelas are a mexican tradition celebrated in december. They are humorous morality tales of good versus evil with devils and angels in a secular mix of theater and pageant. Our 2022 pastorela was performed outdoors at our facility and had a mercado with dozens of small local vendors. The community enjoyed songs from el coro de sacramento in english and spanish. Our pastoela was a low-cost ticket program and had over 500 people attended the production da del nio - april 2023 dozens of families and friends joined our free da del nio program. Dance performances, youth activities, food, and a resource fair were provided for families. El bus de frida - july 8 the event that changed fridas life forever was a bus accident as she headed to coyoacan in 1925. This el bus de frida is a metaphor to celebrate her life and took place at winn park, an open space reaching a bigger diverse audience in midtown sacramento. El bus de frida took the audience through latin america introducing them to powerful women like violeta parra, toto la momposina, chabuca granda, maria jose morales and more. We had over 200 community members join us during this celebration and twelve Art vendors. Volunteer engagement we had over 200 volunteers engaged in our major programs and in preparation for our major programs. Volunteers are vital to sustaining the lcac's mission over the long term. Their dedication and support help to ensure that the Center remains a vibrant, dynamic force for cultural expression, education, and social justice within the community. Gallery exhibitions in spirit - july 2022 in conjunction with this year's fiesta de frida, the Latino Center curated a show celebrating the female influence in Art featuring: juana alicia, irma lerma barbosa, claudia bernardi, nanibah "nani" chacon, ruby chacn, rupert garca, lorraine garca-nakata, patricia rodriquez. Oaxaca museum - august 2022 as a part of oaxaca en sacramento celebrating la guelaguetza, gloria torres and rory castillo produced a museum exhibition featuring oaxaca food, spices, and traditional dresses. This museum provided educational elements at our gallery for the community to learn about oaxaca and its Culture. Comida series - september 2022 the Latino Center had the privilege to showcase the royal chicano air force's calendario de comida 1976. Thank you to terry and david bischoff for lending from their personal collection. Vibras de mxico - september 2022 our international artist in residence ruben reveles hosted vibras de mexico showcasing a vibrant depiction of his travels through mexico. Fotos y recuerdos: lowrider photo exhibit - november 2022 brown issues, a community-based organization, presented a youth-led photography showcase displaying the artistry of the vibrant lowrider Culture. Sheldon hs fotos y recuerdos gallery lcac tour - november 2022 we welcomed over 30 students from sheldon high school to learn about the history of chicanismo and lowriding in sacramento el camino hs - da de los muertos workshops & gallery tour - november 2022 we welcomed over 70 students from el camino high school in sacramento to learn about the history and importance of our Center for our Latino community. Students participated in sugar skulls and cempasuchil paper flowers workshops and learned about the importance of da de los muertos celebration in our Culture. Students also toured the gallery and were inspired about the youth-led photography exhibition. Chico state cross cultural leadership Center gallery lcac tour - january 2023 we welcomed 20 students from the California state university chico to tour our gallery and engage in the history of the Latino Center of Art & Culture and chicano history in sacramento. What you give - march 2023 chicanismo is a way of life. It is an ideology that puts emphasis on Culture, identity, community, and education. This Art exhibit created a dialogue between these chicana/o/x teachers and the students they instruct, going beyond the technical aspects of visual arts education into ideas of mentorship, community and a diversity of visual expression. This was our very first exhibition of 2023 and one that drew over 200 people to our gallery during the opening reception. Holding/mantener - may 2023 the holding/mantener showcased the work of nine regional latine artists who are shaping the local Art scene through their work in three dimensional forms, installations, and education. Holding/mantener offered viewers a glimpse at their own identities through what they choose to hold onto or release from their individual cultures. This exhibition welcomed 100 people to the Art reception and a dozen others to an artist talk also held in may. Cultura es fuerza cohort i - youth program kick off (march - december 2023) our very first youth program taught traditional dances from mexico, its significance and history to 11 youth between 14 to 22 years-old. This first cohort also participated in leadership and community building workshops aimed at strengthening their positive and community identity. This group presented six public performances with audiences ranging from 75 - 3,000. Artist services program we provided an artist workspace and welcomed a new partnership with all city writers to use the space to practice and rehearse for their shows.