Administrative Information
Custodial History:
The Mexican American Cultural Arts Project Records were stored in a box at the home of board member and donor, Delia Perez Meyer. Austin History Center's Neighborhood Liaison, Irene Gonzales, delivered the materials to the Austin History Center. Other individuals who donated materials to the Mexican American Cultural Arts Project Records were Lori Renteria whose husband Sabino Renteria had been a task force member and Emma Barrientos who had been on the original planning team.
Preferred Citation:
Austin (Tex.). Center for Mexican American Cultural Arts Project Records (AR.2002.11). Austin History Center, Austin Public Library, Texas.
Acquisition Information:
Donor #: DO/2002/055.
Donation Date: 2004-10-28.
Processing Information:
Initial Inventory and Preliminary Processing by Irene Gonzales, Margaret Schlankey, Tim Hamblin, and Danny Camacho in October – May 2005.
Final Processing and Finding Aid by Irene Gonzales on June 2005.
Administrative History of the Center for Mexican American Cultural Arts Center
The Center for Mexican American Cultural Arts (CMACA, Inc.) was founded in April of 1997. The Board of Directors for CMACA evolved from the Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC) Task Force members appointed by the Austin City Council. This was done on the advice of City staff, in order to create the legal entity that could plan, develop, and manage the future Mexican American Cultural Center to be located at 600 River Street in downtown Austin, Texas. These records, 1997 and 1998, document the development, planning, and management organization of the Mexican American Cultural Center. One fulltime staff person [Thomas Salas] was hired and given an office at 600 River Street on the 6.2 acres of land that the City designated, by ordinance, as the future site for the cultural center. Mr. Salas’s responsibility was to raise funds to cover the costs of operations and maintenance, once the center was built. Construction financing for the facilities was to be provided in large part through the City Bond Election package approved in 1998. The dollar amount approved by the citizens of Austin for the Mexican American cultural Center was 10.9 million dollars.
1981-1985
Efforts by the community garner City of Austin support for a facility.
1986
A task force is appointed by the City Council. A preliminary analysis was created for a Mexican American Cultural Center at Fiesta Gardens which included plans for a theater/auditorium, a museum and community facilities.
1988
A study is commissioned by the City of Austin to address project feasibility and site selection. The report addressed market study and analysis, program operations, financial feasibility funding, and operations strategy. Several potential sites and evaluated them against criteria such as costs, neighborhood setting, proximity to Hispanic community and others. The report concluded with a proposal for a 70,000 square foot facility with a 22, 500 square foot plaza and an estimated construction cost of $9,579,500 located at 600 River Street.
1988
City Council adopted a resolution designating the River Street site for the Mexican American Cultural Center on the August 1992 bond election ballot.
1988
The City of Austin Bond Election ballot included a Mexican American Cultural Center facility for the River Street site, which was narrowly defeated, receiving 47 percent of the vote.
1988
The City Council directed the City Manager to explore the possibility of renovating the existing Public Works facility for use as the Mexican American Cultural Center, which resulted in the recommendation that selected buildings could be re-used.
1995
A consulting architect team developed a Phase I program and the concept of reusing as much of the existing structure as possible and to work with the Mexican American Cultural Center task force to identify a building program, a master facilities plan and a proposed budget. Only two of the six buildings can be adapted for use for proposed theatre, classroom and service building for $4.8 million.
1995
The study contained a proposed budget without sources for funding. The study stated that this phase only began to address the needs of the community. It included additional facility needs that have been identified previously, which included a museum/gallery and support functions, plaza space, and performing and visual art classroom space. The study stated that these needs would be addressed in later phased development.
1996
The project is at a standstill without funding sources. The Consortium intended to use these past studies and development of the Latino Arts Organizations to produce an expanded version of the Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC) that will fit the facility needs of the Latino Arts Consortium.
1997
Approximately $200,000 is available for relocation costs for departments currently utilizing the River Street site. Approximately $47,000 remains available from unused funds from the 1995 feasibility study conducted by the consulting architects. The MACC Task Force has successfully secured the necessary Charter from the State of Texas and is awaiting final word regarding the 501 3 status.
1997
December of 1997 the MACC Task Force in conjunction with La Peña and the Latino Arts Consortium of Austin hosted a historical first performance at the MACC site. (La Pastorela: A Shepard’s Story).
1998
February of 1998, the MACC Task Force moved into the former Parks and Recreation Forestry Offices at the River Street Site.
1998
In February of 1998 Parks & Recreation Board, votes to recommend the MACC as part of their Bond Package Proposal.
1998
Mayor Pro Tem, Gus Garcia, and Travis County Commissioner Margaret Gomez forward a memorandum to Mayor and Council and the Citizen’s Bond Committee requesting the MACC be formally included in their Bond Package recommendations.
1998
During the first weekend in April stakeholders at the Waller Creek Charity (?) identify the MACC as an anchor toward the success of the redevelopment of Waller Creek.
1998
In April of 1998 the Planning Commission votes to recommend the MACC as part of their Bond Package Proposal.
1998
On April 8, 1998 the Austin City Council is scheduled to consider adoption of a resolution requesting that the City Manager negotiate a long-term agreement regarding occupancy and use of the MACC site with the Center for Mexican American Cultural Arts, Inc. (CMACA) and to further negotiate a contract with CMACA to utilize the remaining funds previously appropriated for the development of the MACC.
Scope and Content of the Records
The inventory revealed: Newspaper clippings, Xerox papers of business records, budgets and financial records one photocopy of a newspaper photo, newspaper articles, assorted brochures, wire bound books containing architectural plans, newsletters, flyers, neighborhood plans, By-laws, correspondence, agendas, business minutes, budget reports, financial statements, bond election material, feasibility studies, lease agreement, status reports, strategic plan, I.R.S. Letter Tax Exemption Determination, and program brochures from various entertainment fundraisers.