By Catherine Cuellar, KERA 90.1 reporter
Dallas, TX – Catherine Cuellar, KERA 90.1 reporter: In its first three days, about two thousand artists, performers, and members of the community have come through the Latino Cultural Center. The $10 million facility is the result of eight years of public and private fundraising, spearheaded by grand opening committee co-chair Dolores Barzune.
Dolores Barzune, Cultural Affairs Commission chair: The need for a venue is very strong here in Dallas. We have so many beautiful places, but we have a lot of arts groups. And to be able to accommodate all of them, this is really kind of nice because this gives the Latino artist and Latino performer a home.
Cuellar: Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico, Cara Mia Theatre, and Teatro Dallas have already booked shows at the center. Teatro Dallas currently performs in an industrial warehouse district near several alcohol distributors. Because it lacks a lobby, patrons wait outside for the doors to open. Cora Cardona is the group's founder and artistic director.
Cora Cardona, Teatro Dallas founder and artistic director: We have never been able to raise the amount of money that needs to have a real well-equipped space. In fact, the Latino Cultural Center, we're very happy that it's here, but it still needs to grow in that area, and I know the city eventually, you know, as we grow into it, will equip it.
Cuellar: Other artists share Cardona's enthusiasm for the Center, but they're also concerned about what it lacks. For example, the 300-seat theatre has limited lighting and room offstage. Artist Diana Navarette Marquis also sees challenges in the exhibition space.
Diana Marquis, artist: There's essentially one gallery. There's one space that we're using as a secondary gallery right now that is really a community room or a classroom or some other kind of room and we've been told that we cannot use that again as a gallery space.
Cuellar: There is money in the budget for improvements. In May, voters approved more than $875,000 in bonds for land and the design of Phase Two of the project, which will add a black box theatre and classrooms. But many believe the center still needs visionary leadership. An early search for a director yielded no viable candidates. This week the Office of Cultural Affairs finally announced their choice, Alda Godines, who has directed Latino arts spaces in Illinois and Corpus Christi. When she arrives next month, Godines must assemble a board and determine who will get priority in using the center. She will report to Cultural Affairs director Betty Switzer.
Betty Switzer, Office of Cultural Affairs Director: I expect there to be a fairly equal balance between local arts organizations and international, national, and regional artists that we'll be bringing in. We certainly want to showcase our local artists in this gorgeous space, but we want to bring some programs that will continue to promote cultural understanding.
Cuellar: Switzer says in about five years, the city may allow a non-profit group to manage the center. But for now, city council member Veletta Lill hopes the building itself, just east of downtown, will help link the Arts District to the west with Deep Ellum and Fair Park to the southeast.
Veletta Lill, Dallas City Council member: And this is the beginning of connecting those dots, where you see both linkages through light rail, but also a sense where people feel like they can probably walk from downtown.
Cuellar: The grand opening continues with a concert tonight and festival tomorrow. Information is available online at Dallas Culture-dot-org. For KERA 90.1, I'm Catherine Cuellar.
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