Mission Statement
The Laredo Center for the Arts (the Center) coordinates, promotes, encourages and supports the arts in the Laredo / South Texas area. The purpose of the Center is to: promote a cultural arts climate for the city of Laredo, Texas, in which the artistic creativity of all people may find a voice; organize and adapt the community's resources to the needs of the artists and to the public; work with and advise officials, agencies, organizations, schools, businesses, and committees in supporting arts activities; develop educational programs; promote tourism; and encourage public participation and appreciation of the arts and humanities in the Laredo area.
Description
Local artist and art supporter Anne Brennan Vela and a group of dedicated citizens founded the Laredo Center for the Arts in September of 1993. Reopening the doors of the old City Hall in historic Market Square, the Laredo Center for the Arts brought back to life an historic building from the 1880's that was originally built to accommodate a market, a city hall, and a theater for the performing arts.
Established with assistance from the City of Laredo to promote the artistic creativity of all people, the Laredo Center for the Arts hosts a variety of artistic and cultural events, including international art exhibitions, dance performances, art history lectures, musical performances, and art education classes for adults and children.
The Laredo Center for the Arts serves a steadily increasing number of visitors each year. The Center also houses the Webb County Heritage Foundation, and a gallery for the Laredo Art League. The Center manages three galleries: the Goodman Gallery, the Lilia G. Martinez Gallery and the Community Gallery which is dedicated to showing the work of local student artists.
