About Us

The Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts (MCCLA) makes the arts accessible as an essential element to the community's development and well-being.

The Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts was established in 1977 by artists and community activists with a shared vision to promote, preserve and develop the cultural arts that reflect the living tradition and experiences of the Chicano, Central and South American, and Caribbean people, and to make arts accessible as an essential element to community development and well-being.

MCCLA is a multicultural, multidisciplinary arts organization committed to the collaborative artistic vision of Latino art forms. MCCLA provides the community with an arena in which to develop new artistic skills, as well as support local and established artists that serve their community. MCCLA collaborates with other arts, social and humanitarian groups to provide the widest range of programming possible.

Our History

The MCCLA opened its doors to the public in 1977 along with the names of the founding fathers and mothers of MCCLA. Originally the building was inadequate to serve as a center but thanks to the small staff and to the dedicated group of volunteers who spend laborious hours have now attained international recognition by winning two world graphic arts biennials: Germany and Cuba and developing an art space, Galeria, Museo. Most of these improvements were completed by the first year. Due to a lack of Funding MCCLA had minimal structure since 1977. A renovation master plan has been thought of and discussed since the mid-1980s. Despite the lack of funds the quality of the program that MCCLA offers continues to demonstrate a high level of professionalism.

MCCLA’S main objectives are to present the best representative sample of contemporary and ancient artistic traditions of Latin America and to develop in the community a high degree of sensitivity and understanding of Latin American culture. To this end, throughout its 38-year history, the MCCLA has sponsored a series of local, national, and international activities and programs that helped establish it as the largest Latino cultural center in the continental United States. Many of the original projects and programs have been replicated in other parts of the United States.

The history of MCCLA is directly linked to a concept that embodies the pre-Cortezan belief that culture is not something that is static but rather linked to an ever-changing future that is reflected by contemporary actions and activities. This has been the path that MCCLA has followed for the last 25 years.

The History of the MCCLA by Juan Pablo Gutierrez, with archival research and technical assistance from Luis Alberto De La Garza.

Photo Gallery: Our Building Through Time

"The Founders" 25th Anniversary Video

Read the Transcript of “The Founders” Video

Our Founders

Diana Diaz-Vargas
Carmen Olivares
Mauricio Santos
Francisco Tovar
Alejandro Murguia
Carlos Cordova

Carlos Gallardo
Mario Gallardo
Alfonso Maciel
Oscar Maciel
Enrique Fernandez
Magaly Fernandez

Funders and Sponsors

San Francisco Arts Commission
Walter & Elise Haas Foundation
NALAC
The Zellerbach Foundation
The California Traditional Folk Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Humanities
and other private and individual contributors.

Roberto Vargas
Gilberto Osorio
Nery Ordonez
Mara Rosales
Cecilia Martinez-Guidos

Transcript