Centro Cultural de la Raza

Centro Cultural de la Raza The Centro's mission is to create, preserve, promote and educate about Chicano, Mexicano, Latino and Indigenous art and culture.
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San Diego's Centro Cultural de la Raza was founded in 1970 as a Chicano Community Cultural Center and functions as an alternative space that encourages and facilitates artistic growth and cultural interchange in the San Diego/Tijuana region. The Centro provides classes and features a dynamic interdiscipinary schedule of events which includes exhibits, musical performances, installation art, readin

gs, receptions, Azteca dance, Teatro Chican@, Ballet Folklorico, film screenings and other events. We welcome you to visit the Centro and invite you to participate in the exciting programs we have planned for 2011.

AGARRA LA ONDA!Selections from Centro’s CollectionON VIEW SEPTEMBER 5 – OCTOBER 4, 2026Centro Cultural de la RazaIn comm...
08/27/2026

AGARRA LA ONDA!
Selections from Centro’s Collection

ON VIEW SEPTEMBER 5 – OCTOBER 4, 2026
Centro Cultural de la Raza

In commemoration of the Chicano artists who have contributed to the cultural, political, and community life of the Centro and its archives, Agarra la Onda honors the legacy of Chicano art as a practice of cultural memory, resistance, spirituality, and political consciousness.

The title draws inspiration from David Avalos’ Ofrenda exhibition at Galería Posada in Sacramento, California (1985). At the center of Avalos’ altar is the image of a woman holding a sign announcing a “National Protest March Against the Militarization of the Border.” The work reminds us that the struggles represented through Chicano art remain connected to the political realities our communities continue to confront today.

This selected collection from the Centro’s private collection offers a glimpse into the vast range of work held within our collection, from photography and prints to paintings and other forms of visual expression. Together, these works reflect how Chicana/o artists have used cultura, politics, and spirituality to document our histories, challenge oppression, and imagine different possibilities for our communities.

Agarra la Onda is a call to understand, to know our history, our identity, and the political reality and material conditions in which we live in the so-called United States. As this art goes up on our walls, federal authorities are actively invading unceded Kumeyaay and Tohono O’odham lands to build more border walls, while ICE continues to terrorize and kidnap folks from our communities. To agarrar la onda, to “get it,” to understand what is happening around us, is also to awaken to the realities of a white supremacist and capitalist system that has historically treated our communities as a threat. Moreover is a call to take action and confront such realities.

It is through cultural remembering and praxis that we can reawaken political consciousness and recognize the need to create, protect, and strengthen community. Art becomes part of that remembering: an archive of struggle, resistance, spirituality, and collective imagination.

The Centro is our community home, a living archive and a pillar of our ofrenda de conciencia.

Curated by the Arts Advisory Committee (AAC)
Israel “Izzy” Carranza • Ymoat Luna • Marce M. Prado

¡AGARRA LA ONDA!
Selecciones de la Colección del Centro

EN EXHIBICIÓN DEL 5 DE SEPTIEMBRE AL 4 DE OCTUBRE DE 2026
Centro Cultural de la Raza

En conmemoración de les artistas chicanxs que han contribuido a la vida cultural, política y comunitaria del Centro, Agarra la Onda honra el arte chicano/a como una práctica de memoria cultural, resistencia, espiritualidad y conciencia política.

Inspirada por la exposición Ofrenda de David Avalos en Galería Posada, Sacramento (1985), esta exhibición presenta una selección de la colección privada del Centro, incluyendo fotografía, grabados, pinturas y otras formas de expresión visual.

Agarra la Onda es un llamado a conocer nuestra historia, identidad y las realidades políticas que afectan a nuestras comunidades. A través del arte, recordamos, resistimos e imaginamos posibilidades para nuestro futuro colectivo.

El Centro es nuestro hogar comunitario, un archivo vivo y un pilar de nuestra ofrenda de conciencia.

Curada por el Comité Asesor de Arte (AAC)
Israel “Izzy” Carranza • Ymoat Luna • Marce M. Prado

Fandango en el Centro 💃🏽🎶10 de octubre | 6 PM–2 AM📍 Centro Cultural de la Raza✨ ¡Todes están invitadxs!Vamos a tener fan...
08/23/2026

Fandango en el Centro 💃🏽🎶
10 de octubre | 6 PM–2 AM
📍 Centro Cultural de la Raza
✨ ¡Todes están invitadxs!

Vamos a tener fandango,
hoy venimos a anunciar:
Cris, Caro, Neto y Eduardo
invitan a fandanguear. 🎶

El fandango es una celebración comunitaria con música, danza, verso, canto y comida. Una práctica con raíces centenarias en distintas tradiciones musicales de México, que nos reúne para celebrar la vida, honrar a quienes han partido y acercarnos a la memoria a través de la música y el baile.

🌼 Sólo vamos a dejar flores. 🌼

Traigan sus zapatos para zapatear, sus instrumentos, sus voces y, sobre todo, sus ganas de celebrar.

De parte de Eduardo!

¡Acá los vemos!

Fandango at Centro 🎶
October 10 | 6 PM–2 AM
📍 Centro Cultural de la Raza
✨ Everyone is invited!

We’re having a fandango,
and today we come to say:
Cris, Caro, Neto & Eduardo
invite you to fandanguear! 🎶

Fandango is a community celebration rooted in centuries-old musical traditions from Mexico, bringing together music, dance, verse, singing, and food. It is a way to celebrate life, honor those who have passed, and come closer to one another through music, movement, and memory.

🌼 We’re only leaving flowers. 🌼

Bring your dancing shoes, your instruments, your voice, and most importantly, your spirit to celebrate.

Words by Eduardo!

¡Acá los vemos!

Love of Community Arts: Cooking WorkshopMake Your Own Tetelas with SORI Join us for a hands-on cooking workshop during T...
08/22/2026

Love of Community Arts: Cooking Workshop
Make Your Own Tetelas with SORI

Join us for a hands-on cooking workshop during Tianguis de la Raza! Learn how to make traditional Oaxacan tetelas while cooking and connecting with community. Tianguis de la Raza

First come, first served — only 8 spots available!

Come learn & cook in community. 💛 We will meet in the kitchen!

Love of Community Arts: Taller de Cocina
Haz tus Propias Tetelas con SORI

¡Acompáñanos en un taller práctico de cocina durante Tianguis de la Raza! Aprende a preparar tradicionales tetelas oaxaqueñas mientras cocinamos y convivimos en comunidad. Tianguis de la Raza

Cupo limitado a 8 personas — por orden de llegada.

Ven a aprender, cocinar y compartir en comunidad. 💛

Hola comunidad! 🌽💛Join us for our L.O.C.A. Cooking Workshop during Tianguis de la Raza! Tianguis de la Raza This worksho...
08/21/2026

Hola comunidad! 🌽💛

Join us for our L.O.C.A. Cooking Workshop during Tianguis de la Raza! Tianguis de la Raza

This workshop will be first come, first served — no RSVP required. Only 8 spots are available!

Come learn how to make traditional memelas with SORI . 🫓✨

We’ll be meeting in our kitchen. See you there!

¡Hola comunidad! 🌽💛

¡Acompáñanos a nuestro Taller de Cocina L.O.C.A. durante Tianguis de la Raza! Tianguis de la Raza

El taller será por orden de llegada — no es necesario hacer RSVP. ¡Solo hay 8 espacios disponibles!

Ven a aprender a preparar memelas tradicionales con SORI . 🫓✨

Nos vemos en nuestra cocina. ¡Les esperamos

Join us September 19, 1–3 PM at Centro Cultural de la Raza for a special panel discussion and celebration of ¡Habla! Spe...
08/19/2026

Join us September 19, 1–3 PM at Centro Cultural de la Raza for a special panel discussion and celebration of ¡Habla! Speaking Bodies and Dancing Our América by Dr. Jade Power-Sotomayor.

¡Habla! explores how dance, movement, sound, and rhythm become powerful ways of knowing, connecting, and creating possibility across “our América.”

📚 Book signing to follow books will be available for purchase!

🎶 Then join us for a Community Bombazo at Mujeres Brewhouse, 5–9 PM. Mujeres Brew House

Únete el 19 de septiembre, de 1–3 PM en Centro Cultural de la Raza para un panel y celebración de ¡Habla! Speaking Bodies and Dancing Our América de la Dra. Jade Power-Sotomayor.

¡Habla! explora cómo la danza, el movimiento, el sonido y el ritmo se convierten en formas poderosas de conocimiento, conexión y posibilidad en “nuestra América.”

📚 Firma de libros después del panel libros disponibles para comprar!

🎶 Después, acompáñanos al Bombazo Comunitario en Mujeres Brewhouse, 5–9 PM.

Join us for a L.O.C.A. workshop during the Tianguis de la Raza! 🌺✨This free, hands-on workshop is open to everyone, rega...
08/12/2026

Join us for a L.O.C.A. workshop during the Tianguis de la Raza! 🌺✨

This free, hands-on workshop is open to everyone, regardless of skill level. First come, first served! We recommend arriving early to the Tianguis to reserve your spot.

The workshop begins at 2:00 PM and lasts less than an hour.

See you Sunday! 💚

¡Acompáñanos en un taller de L.O.C.A. durante el Tianguis de la Raza! 🌺✨

Este taller gratuito y práctico está abierto a todas las personas, sin importar su nivel de experiencia. ¡Cupo limitado y por orden de llegada! Recomendamos llegar temprano al Tianguis para asegurar tu lugar.

El taller comienza a las 2:00 PM y dura menos de una hora.

¡Nos vemos el domingo! 💚

Hello everyone,We want to let you know that our next Arts Advisory Committee meeting will take place on Thursday, Septem...
08/06/2026

Hello everyone,

We want to let you know that our next Arts Advisory Committee meeting will take place on Thursday, September 3, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.

To give everyone time to prepare their proposals in advance, we kindly ask that you send them to [email protected].

As part of this initiative within our organization, we look forward to hearing all your ideas—whether you join us online or in person!

¡Hola a todxs!

Les informamos que nuestra próxima Reunión del Comité Asesor de Artes se llevará a cabo el jueves 3 de septiembre de 2026, de 6:00 a 8:00 PM.

Para darles tiempo de preparar sus propuestas con anticipación, les pedimos que las envíen a [email protected].

Como parte de esta iniciativa en nuestra organización, ¡nos entusiasma escuchar todas sus ideas, ya sea en línea o en persona!

Hello everyone!Centro Cultural de la Raza will be closed for renovations from August 31 through September 4.We plan to r...
08/04/2026

Hello everyone!

Centro Cultural de la Raza will be closed for renovations from August 31 through September 4.

We plan to reopen on September 5, unless otherwise announced.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. We look forward to welcoming you back soon!

Aviso a la Comunidad¡Hola a todxs!

El Centro Cultural de la Raza permanecerá cerrado por remodelaciones del 31 de agosto al 4 de septiembre.

Planeamos reabrir 5 de septiembre, a menos que se anuncie lo contrario.

¡Gracias por su paciencia y comprensión! Esperamos recibirles nuevamente muy pronto.

BORDER CLÁSICOSA solo performance by Guillermo Gómez-Peña Guillermo Gómez-Peña Thank you to everyone who came out and ...
08/02/2026

BORDER CLÁSICOS
A solo performance by Guillermo Gómez-Peña Guillermo Gómez-Peña

Thank you to everyone who came out and joined us for this incredible evening at Centro Cultural de la Raza!

In Border Clásicos, Guillermo Gómez-Peña performed a selection of his vast body of classic texts from his living archive alongside new work written over the past four years.

A special thank you to Jade Power Sotomayor Jade Power Sotomayor for organizing and bringing this event to life, and to Saul Timba SAVL TIMBA el Viejo Lazaro for providing the sound and music that kept the energy flowing throughout the night.

Thank you to everyone who shared this experience with us. Until next time!

BORDER CLÁSICOS
Un espectáculo unipersonal de Guillermo Gómez-Peña

¡Gracias a todas las personas que nos acompañaron y compartieron esta increíble noche en Centro Cultural de la Raza!

En Border Clásicos, Guillermo Gómez-Peña presentó una selección de sus textos clásicos, extraídos de su vasto archivo vivo, junto con obras recientes escritas durante los últimos cuatro años.

Un agradecimiento muy especial a Jade Power Sotomayor por organizar y hacer posible este evento, y a Saul Timba por el sonido y la música que mantuvieron la energía durante toda la velada.

¡Gracias por ser parte de esta experiencia! ¡Nos vemos en el próximo evento!

Address

2004 Park Boulevard
San Diego, CA
92101

Opening Hours

Tuesday 12pm - 5pm
Wednesday 12pm - 5pm
Thursday 12pm - 5pm
Friday 12pm - 5pm
Saturday 12pm - 5pm
Sunday 12pm - 5pm

Telephone

+16195596389

Website

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