| The
Guadalupe Cultural Arts was founded in 1980 as a nonprofit,
multidisciplinary organization for Chicano, Latino, and Indigenous
peoples. Located in the heart of San Antonio's west side, the
Guadalupe is currently the largest community-based, multidisciplinary
organization in the United States. Through its public and educational
programming, the Guadalupe presents and produces a season of
events, exhibitions and festivals. The Guadalupe strives to
preserve, develop, present, and promote the art and culture
of the Chicano, Latino, and Indigenous peoples. The scope
of the Guadalupe's programming is multi-disciplinary and varied
within each of the following arts disciplines: dance, media
arts, Xicano music, literature, theater arts, and visual arts.While
the Guadalupe focuses on enhancing cultural knowledge within
the community, it also endeavors to increase understanding
of the Latino, Chicano and Indigenous culture to all.
The historic,
beautifully restored Guadalupe Theater houses the Guadalupe
Bookstore: Arte, Cultura y Más and provides
the stage and screen for our ongoing programming.In addition,
construction is underway to complete the Visual/Media Arts
School and Gallery located on 719 S. Brazos, just one block
north of the Guadalupe Theater. The School and Gallery will
include the main art gallery and classroom space for our many
art classes. Most classes are currently held at the Cesar Chavez
Education Building across from the Guadalupe Theater and the
Storefront Teatro, located next to the administrative offices.
Renewed collaboration with the Institute of Mexico has set
a new stage for the Dance Program.
The
Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center is situated in the heart of the
Mexican American community of San Antonio,
on the corner of Brazos and Guadalupe
Street. Guadalupe Street is legendary in
the history of Mexican Americans as a
hub of Hispanic arts and cultural activity.
The general neighborhood sprouted toward
the end of the 19th century to house workers
from the nearby packing plants and ancillary
businesses, such as leather, crafts and
candle making. In short order, the strip
of Guadalupe Street from what is now Interstate
35 all the way to Zarzamora Street became
a bustling commercial and entertainment
center boasting at least five movie theaters,
numerous nightclubs, stores and businesses
of all kinds.
Just prior to World War II, the Alazan-Apache Courts became
the first public housing project in the nation. Throughout the
1950s, the area began a gradual decline. The closing of the Guadalupe
Theater in 1970 signaled the end of Guadalupe Street as the virtual
center of Mexican American culture in San Antonio. This area,
in which the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center has its central offices,
has become one of the poorest neighborhoods in the United States.
It is an area with a virtually 95% Hispanic population. Since
1982, when the Guadalupe relocated its headquarters to the historic Progreso
Drugstore in the area, efforts have been under way to revitalize
and redevelop the Guadalupe Street area. The reconstruction and
reopening of the Guadalupe Theater in 1984 was the first effort
at redevelopment.
Since then, the area has continued to enhance. |
