Arts History at IBA:
Since its inception, IBA’s mission has reflected a deep commitment for the arts and its importance in building a strong and sustainable community. We are dedicated to promoting and preserving the rich artistic and cultural expression of Puerto Rico and other Latin American countries. This vision has become a reality through the development of many arts-related programs, the introduction of public art in Villa Victoria and the building of a 450-person capacity performance center. The opening of the new Casa de la Cultura/Center for Latino Arts is fulfilling the community’s dream of constructing an arts center that will continue to stimulate the rich expression that has been part of the community’s fabric for over three decades.

As part of IBA’s organizing strategy throughout the early 1970’s, the use of music, dance and poster-making were integral parts of assembling a community into action. In 1973, to celebrate the achievement of having been designated developers of Parcel 19 (the site where Villa Victoria was built) IBA sponsored a one-day event called Festival Betances. With a backdrop of traditional dance, music, crafts made by local artists and food, the community came together to honor the community members who were involved in this process as well as to reinforce native Puerto Rican culture. Now in its thirty-second year, Festival Betances has grown into a three day multicultural celebration of the arts, culture and customs.

In 1975 IBA formalized its dedication to the arts by developing the “Areyto” program. Utilizing the wealth of artistic talent in the community, IBA developed a multi-discipline arts program for the youth and adults. Under the direction of Myrna Vasquez, a noted Puerto Rico theatrical performer, IBA organized a small theater company that produced Puerto Rican plays such as Vejigantes, La Carreta, and others. Organized by the then Harvard University Loeb Theater’s director, IBA organized a street theater company called Virazon. Utilizing mainly Puerto Rican students from the Boston Conservatory and the Berkley School of Music, IBA sponsored a choral group that recorded numerous records and traveled to various cities, as well as classes in guitar, precessions and piano. To take advantage of the rich tradition of Caribbean and Latin American silk screening, IBA hired acclaimed artists Enrique Estrada and Jose Delgado to teach the art and to produce a revenue generating enterprise. In addition, Areyto was on contract to the Boston Public Schools to provide an Afro-Caribbean and Latino arts curriculum for middle and high school students. IBA’s excellent track record enabled the organization to receive significant financial support from national funders such as The Lila Wallace-Readers’ Digest Fund and The Ford Foundation, as well as major regional funders such as The Massachusetts Cultural Council, the New England Foundation for the Arts.

In 1982, IBA was awarded a low-power television license by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast programming into the homes of families in Villa Victoria. This license permitted IBA to train community residents in the media arts while training individuals in the use of video cameras, editing and production. This training permitted many young adults to obtain jobs in the broadcast industry. In fact, a Villa Victoria resident and producer won an Emmy for his documentary work at a national television station; and another to start a successful sound company.

One of Areyto’s many highlights was designing the community process that led to installation of a public mural that is the focal point of Plaza Betances (the community center of Villa Victoria). With the support of numerous foundations and artists, IBA created a 30 by 20-foot wall mural made of ceramic tile. Each piece in the story depicts the cultural adaptation that takes place when the Puerto Rican newcomer undergoes when he/she lives in Boston, in addition to paying tribute to a Puerto Rican patriot Dr. Ramon Emeterio Betances. The pieces of the mural were made by participants in IBA’s programs including after-school, pre-school, elderly and social services. The mural has become a much-viewed public art exhibit communicating a sense of community pride and a cultural identification focal point in the community.

In 1985, IBA continued its innovation in the arts by transforming a century-old church into a performance center that is known as the Jorge Hernandez Cultural Center (JHCC). The 450-person capacity hall has been used for events produced by IBA and as a source of income through rentals to nonprofits, the community and corporate clients. As a result of having this performance space, in 1987 IBA launched the acclaimed Café Teatro series for the performing arts. This series has introduced audiences in New England to performing artist from around Latin America. Set in a café style setting, audiences have enjoyed many premieres in the world of Latin Jazz, traditional music and dance and other performances. Currently Café Teatro attracts thousands of participants to its fall and spring seasons.
The performance center has permitted IBA to provide an affordable venue for community artists (Latino and non-Latinos alike). IBA produces cultural events throughout the year promoting local Latino talent. Local cultural institutions such as the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Handle and Hayden Society have collaborated with IBA’s arts program to introduce new audiences to their programs by presenting their work at the JHCC. In addition, the performance center is a source of revenue for the arts program. Through regular rentals to event planners, nonprofit organizations and corporate clients, a culturally and ethnically mixed audience attends events at the center. Moreover, in keeping with our support for the residents of Villa Victoria, all members of the corporation are eligible to rent the space for a very deep discount.

The CLA will permit IBA to realize its long-term plans of incubating artist, providing a central focus for its community arts programs and becoming an advocacy organization for Latino artists. IBA envisions that the combination of the performance and cultural center will provide the one-stop support that Latino artist lack in this region. With time, our expectation is that the CLA will become an attraction for tourists to the City of Boston searching for Latino arts.