Sacramento's Latino Center of Art and Culture is mobilizing community support as federal funding cuts create uncertainty for cultural organizations across California. The longtime cultural institution, which has served the region's Latinx community for over five decades, is launching fundraising efforts to sustain its programming amid shifting federal priorities.
According to the Latino Center of Art and Culture, the organization was founded in 1972 and grew out of the Chicano Civil Rights Movement of the 1970s. Originally established as La Raza Bookstore, the center became the Latino Center of Art and Culture in 2014 and has served as a hub for Sacramento's Chicano artists and broader Latinx community.
Federal Funding Landscape Creates Challenges
The fundraising push comes as cultural organizations nationwide grapple with federal policy changes. CapRadio reports that the Trump Administration has shut down the AmeriCorps volunteer agency, a move that has rippled through organizations relying on federal volunteer programs and related funding streams. While the Latino Center doesn't directly operate AmeriCorps programs, such policy shifts often signal broader changes in federal support for community-based cultural organizations.
The center's mission, as outlined by the Latino Center of Art and Culture, is "to foster artistic, economic and cultural development of the Sacramento region's Latinx community by presenting, exhibiting, and providing excellent artistic programs and services to Latinx artists, organizations and families." The center actively seeks social justice for marginalized and underrepresented Sacramento communities through its programming.
Economic Impact of Arts Sector
The fundraising campaign coincides with new data highlighting the significant economic contribution of arts organizations to the Sacramento region. According to Sacramento News & Review, the nonprofit arts and culture sector generated $241.7 million in economic activity in Sacramento County during 2022, contributing to a national total of $151.7 billion in economic impact.
The study found that attendees of Sacramento arts and cultural events spent an average of $33.13 beyond the cost of admission on purchases such as concessions and merchandise. Events featuring BIPOC and ALAANA programming saw even higher spending, with attendees spending an average of $38.29 per person nationally.
Recent Expansion and State Investment
Despite federal uncertainties, the center has received significant state support for expansion efforts. In 2021, ABC10 reported that Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) and Senator Richard Pan (D-Sacramento) presented a $1 million check to LCAC leaders. The funds were allocated through the 2021 California State Budget to help renovate the Winn Park Building on 28th and Q Street in Sacramento.
As detailed by Sacramento News & Review, once complete, the art deco-style building that formerly housed a dispatch center for emergency fire calls will act as a secondary hub for the LCAC's workshops, art shows, and popular events like Fiesta de Frida—a celebration of the famed Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.
Programming and Community Impact
The center's programming extends well beyond traditional gallery exhibitions. According to Big Day of Giving, twenty youth ages 15-22 participate in the organization's Cultura es Fuerza program, learning traditional dances from Mexico, their significance and historical context, culture, Spanish language skills, and leadership development. The selected participants attend 36 classes between April and November and receive a $400 scholarship upon completion.
One of the center's most celebrated annual events is El Panteón de Sacramento, which features live dance and music in a recreated candlelit Mexican cemetery setting, complete with dirt mounds and colorful bouquets in honor of Dia de los Muertos. The center has also operated collaborative programs like The Sacramento Artist Corps, which employed over 40 artists during the COVID-19 pandemic to create awareness around health and safety through various artistic mediums.
Local Support Amid Federal Uncertainty
While federal funding faces uncertainty, local support continues to show strength. Hoodline reports that Sacramento's Office of Arts and Culture has opened applications for a second round of Creative Venues Grants, with funding available in amounts of $10,000 for art galleries and bookstores, and $20,000 for live entertainment spaces.
The Latino Center of Art and Culture continues its operations from its main location while pursuing community fundraising to ensure program sustainability.
