History
1975-1978 - The idea of creating a Mexican American
Cultural Center surfaces from a group of artists, students and
community activists and begin to approach the City Council with the
idea of building the center.
1986 - Austin City Council appoints a Task Force, the Mexican American Cultural Center Task Force, to work on the issue.
1988 - A feasibility study for the project is
commissioned by the City and concluded that a facility could built on
six acres of City owned land in downtown Austin.
1989 - The Cultural Arts Center is scheduled for the upcoming 1992 bond election ballot but fails with only 47% of the vote.
1997 - The Task Force incorporates as The Center
for Mexican American Cultural Arts, Inc. as a Texas based 501(c)(3)
Non-Profit Corporation.
1997 - The first historical theatrical performance
at the Cultural Center takes place, "La Pastorela, A Shepard’s Story",
a Latino Christmas tradition.
1998 - Austin voters approve $10.9 million in bond financing for the Cultural Arts Center in the November bond election.
2000 - World renowned architect, Teodoro Gonzalez de Leon is selected for the winning design.
2004 - Groundbreaking postponed.
2005 - Groundbreaking postponed.
2006 - Official groundbreaking.
2007– Grand opening kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15–October 15.