By Catherine Cuellar, KERA 90.1 reporter
Dallas, TX – Dennis Leoni, writer for television's "Resurrection Boulevard": In school, we were never taught about the Mexicans in Texas.
Catherine Cuellar, 90.1's Deep In The Arts reporter: Dennis Leoni, writer for Showtime's "Resurrection Boulevard," reads from "Places Left Unfinished At The Time Of Creation," by San Antonio author John Philip Santos.
Leoni: We were required to study Texas history, but it was history from the viewpoint of the later Anglo settlers from the United States and Europe, beginning with the battle at the Alamo for Texas independence, and later statehood.
Cuellar: Leoni's reading was part of a fundraiser for Mi Escuelita preschool last month at the new Latino Cultural Center. With its high, bright orange walls and deep purple tower visible from blocks away, it's a vibrant addition to the local arts scene. Cultural Affairs Commission chair Dolores Barzune spearheaded eight years of fundraising for the $10 million facility.
Dolores Barzune, Cultural Affairs Commission chair: The need for a venue is very strong here in Dallas. 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, all local groups, have also performed in the center. Cora Cardona is the founder and artistic director of Teatro Dallas.
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 as well as her concerns 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 Navarette 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. Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs director Betty Switzer is excited by the possibilities.
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 will oversee the Latino Cultural Center's new general manager, Alda Godines. Godines brings experience with Latino arts spaces in Corpus Christi and Illinois to establish and maintain the center's reputation. For Deep In The Arts, I'm Catherine Cuellar.
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