Latino Cultural Center Project

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Todos Somos Phoenix!

Through the 2001 City Bond program, funding was made available to promote knowledge and appreciation of the cultures of Latinos.

In 2016, the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture secured the services of a consultant to conduct a capital needs assessment and feasibility study, including a management/business plan and evaluation of potential tie-ins with other cultural resources. In 2017, the study was released. This process centered around an extensive community input process consisting of over 20 one-on-one interviews, site visits to arts organizations and facilities in Phoenix and surrounding areas, three public town halls, two focus groups, and an electronic survey with 254 respondents.

In 2019, Mayor Thelda Williams created the Latino Center Ad Hoc Committee to evaluate and make recommendations to the City Council next year about the next steps, including possible sites for a center and the development of a strategic plan, which will result in business and operating, programming, and partnership and fundraising strategies. The committee used the 2017 Capital Assessment and Feasibility Study as its roadmap.

The Ad Hoc Committee met monthly and, in addition, had three working subcommittees (programs & services, fundraising & partnerships, and site & operations). All meetings were open to the public, and community members could participate in any of the three subcommittees.

The Ad Hoc Committee sunset on June 30, 2020, and presented their final report to Phoenix City Council on September 22, 2020. City Council approved the report and final recommendations.

The City of Phoenix is committed to this project and being a city asset. It will be overseen and operated by the Office of Arts and Culture, which manages eight cultural facilities, community cultural programming, and the City’s Public Art Program.

Download the 2017 Study Report

Download the 2020 Final Report

Support the Project

The Latino Cultural Center project is a recommended project in the current General Obligation Bond Program. If approved, the center would have over $22 million to bring this project to fruition to rehabilitate or build a new center. However, the center will need additional equipment and support for exhibition spaces, performance spaces, and other program costs. Consider a tax-deductible donation through the Arizona Community Foundation to help bring this vision to reality.

Donate Online

If you would like to make a donation by check, please make it out to the Phoenix Latino Cultural Center Fund and mail it to:

Arizona Community Foundation
2201 East Camelback Road,
Suite 405B
Phoenix, AZ 85016

Questions?

For questions about the Latino Cultural Center Project, please contact the Office of Arts and Culture at 602-262-4637 or arts.culture@phoenix.gov.

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‭(Hidden)‬ Ad Hoc Committee Members

Vice Mayor Betty Guardado (D5) and Councilman Michael
Nowakowski (D7), Co-Chairs

Dan Carroll
Leticia de la Vara
Jose Andres Giron
George Garcia
Casandra Hernandez
Felicita Mendoza
Gabriela Muñoz
Julian Nabozny
Larry Ortega
Jason Rowley
Deanna Salazar
Elizabeth Toledo
ErLinda Torres
Donna Valdes

The Ad Hoc Committee sunset on June 30, 2020.

‭(Hidden)‬ Upcoming Meetings

Latino Cultural Center Ad Hoc Committee: Monday, April 27, 2020 at 2:00pm

Per the most recent guidelines from the federal government that no more than 10 people should be gathered in a room at the same time, this meeting shall be convened virtually.

A call-in number for the public to listen to a meeting will be published on the official agenda on the city’s public meeting notices page. That agenda will be posted no later than 24 hours prior to the meeting.

Residents can submit a speaker card on any item on the upcoming agenda before 12:00pm on the day of the meeting by emailing arts.culture@phoenix.gov or calling 602-262-4637.