August 7, 1998 PRESS RELEASE For More Information Please Contact: Tomas Salas @ 474-5222 Delia Perez Meyer - Public Relations @ 476-7248 or dmeyer@mail.io.com Please visit our website @ www.polycosmos.org/macc/macc.htm
Mexican American Cultural Arts Center (CMACA) is known as the MACC. The mission and purpose of the Mexican American Cultural Center is to preserve, develop, enhance, educate and present Mexican American cultural arts. We wish to promote a deeper understanding and appreciation for the Native American, Chicano, Latino, Hispano, and other indigenous cultures and their artistic expressions. The Center will involve our youth and the elderly, as mentors, to share and pass on our rich and vast cultural heritage. We offer a space to rehearse, perform, and show our work - art, music, dance, theater, multi-media, writing and poetry, a gallery, and other forms of art unique to our cultures.
HISTORY OF THE MACC - A grass roots efforts has been underway in Austin for over 20 years to designate a space for the Latino Arts. Our dream has now been realized - the MACC will reside at 600 River Street - on the banks of the beautiful Colorado River. The official task force was appointed by City Council in 1986 when conceptual plans for a performing arts theater, an auditorium, gallery, and facilities for youth and adults was developed. In 1988 a detailed report commissioned by the city, was produced by Reyna, Caragonne, Coneway & Young. The proposal is for a 70,000 square foot facility with 22,500 sq. ft. plaza. City Council has adopted a resolution designating the site for the Mexican American Cultural Center.
The Planning Commission listed the Mexican American Cultural Center and the George Carver Museum on the August 1992 Bond Election. MACC was narrowly defeated, although having received 47% of the vote.
In 1995, the task force under the leadership of Cathy Vasquez-Revilla continued to progress with the completion of the Feasibility Study and Master Plan. MACC Task Force meets with members of Latino Arts Coalition to unify efforts, provide support, and move forward. April 1996 - Austin Arts Commission unanimously supports the MACC as do city council members and other community leaders. The ordinance passed states: "Be it ordained by the city council of the City of Austin: That the property at 600 River St. be designated and reserved for use as the site for the construction of the Mexican American Cultural Center." "Whereas the City of Austin desires to extend such designation and reservation indefinitely"....
During 1996 the CMACA Board of Directors is formed and so is the Non-Profit Organization. Task force members from the business and arts community are named to the board - Cathy Vasquez Revilla, Tomas Salas, Roen Salinas, Delia Perez Meyer, Sylvia Orozco, Sabino Renteria, Rodney Garza, and Jimmy Castro.
MACC hosted its first function - "Pastorelas" - during the 1997 Christmas Season. The musical/play was presented to the community as the first programming on the site of the Center for Mexican American Cultural Arts. It was warmly received by the community of Austin and was a very successful endeavor. This year has been productive and has been busy continuing the struggle. All organizations re-group and have a series of meetings with Mayor Pro Tem Gus Garcia and his staff, members of Latino Arts Consortium, MACC Board, Citizen's Bond Committee, and community leaders to include the MACC on the September 26, 1998 Bond Election.
We are presently organized to lead a powerful and successful campaign for the passage of a $10 million dollar bond package to build the facility and finally realize our life-long dreams. The "MACC Amigos" is the Political Action Campaign created to ensure passage of the bond. Community leaders, arts organizations, businesses, and many other volunteers and supporters have come together for this grass roots effort. We meet each week - if you would like to assist with the campaign, please contact us, and/or come to our work sessions on Saturday mornings. "THE TIME IS RIGHT" for the MACC. We firmly believe that together we can make this happen! Through continued efforts of the MACC Board of Directors, Latino Arts Consortium of Austin, and the Austin community who support Latino Arts - we are certain that we will succeed in September. We graciously ask for your vote, your financial assistance, and your continued patronage of the Latino Arts in Austin. If you would like to register to vote, please contact us; we can help you. Please support the MACC on the September 26, 1998 - General Bond Elections - it will be listed under Libraries. Your tax deductible donations may be made on behalf of your family and/or business. Thank you for your consideration and please feel free to call us should you have any further questions.