Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts
Many museums arise in response to lack of representation of a particular culture or movement. Sometimes, though, a museum comes to fruition in order to represent a multitude of cultures that can barely be contained within its walls. Initially known as the Palmeto Museum, the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts has been inviting artists to represent their own unique component of Latino culture since 1977.
Located on Mission Street in San Francisco, the MCCLA is today one of the biggest showcases of Latino culture in the United States. Events have made paintings, photography, drawings, and public art projects accessible to those who may not be familiar with the nuances of Latino/a identity. Artists and contributors have come from South America, Central America, the Caribbean, Mexico and, of course, the United States.
Events at MCCLA make art tangible for visitors hailing from any culture. Guests have heard youth mariachi bands play, participated in a Spanish language book club, and debated the ideas and initiatives of student activists. They’ve also taken flamenco lessons, learned how to play the guitar and explored art with their children.
Emerging artists are invited to rent studio space at the facility, while the entire barrio, or surrounding community, is welcome to attend many of MCCLA’s offerings in theatre, music, dance and visual art exhibits.
While looking to the future and cataloguing the present, the MCCLA also seeks to archive crucial visuals from the past. Their archives are home to thousands of posters, a medium that has frequently been recognizable to visitors of all ages. Many of the posters are available for purchase in the museum’s store.
Guests young and old can also enjoy workshops held at the museum, such as etching their own designs or printing their own t-shirts. Many of these sessions are taught by MCCLA’s own artist in residence, emphasizing the collaborative nature of artistic instruction and cultural immersion.
Demonstrating MCCLA’s artful influence, many of their programs have been duplicated throughout the country.
The Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts is located at 2868 Mission Street in San Francisco. They can be reached at (415) 821-1155, or via the web at missionculturalcenter.org. Hours of events and exhibits may vary, so it is best to call directly for times.