August 27, 2008                                                                                                                                                     

CONTACTS:                                                                                                                                                             

Lucas Smiraldo, Associate Director of Education and Community Outreach – 253.591.5341– lsmiraldo@broadwaycenter.org

Lacey Leffler, Associate Director of Marketing – 253.573.2360 – laceyl@broadwaycenter.org

Broadway Center Presents La Plaza Festival

In Partnership with Tacoma Farmers Market

Community Dialogues Supported by The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation and

The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation

Tacoma, WA – On Thursday, September 18, during Tacoma Farmers Market, the Broadway Center will present La Plaza, a free community event celebrating Latino culture.

La Plaza is a project that evolved from the Broadway Center’s groundbreaking Community Dialogue program. Through Community Dialogues, members of potential audiences that have been historically underserved by the region’s arts organizations gather to share their ideas, what kind of programming they would like to see and how the Broadway Center can overcome existing barriers for participation.

In March, at their first Community Dialogue, members of the South Sound’s Latino community recommended that the Broadway Center create a free outdoor event in conjunction with existing community events.  In response, the Broadway Center partnered with Tacoma Farmers Market to produce the first La Plaza Major Festival.

La Plaza will showcase four Latino performing and visual artists of the region:

• 11 a.m. - Storyteller and festival coordinator Rose Cano

Cano, a Peruvian American touring artist and cultural activist, will present a family storytelling event with music and costumes on the second floor of the Theatre on the Square Lobby

• Noon - Correo Aereo

Correo Aerio, a musical trio representing a variety of Latin American musical traditions, will perform on the main stage in Pierce Transit Park

• 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. - Artwork Display

Nicaraguan painter Marcio Diaz’s and Peruvian artist Lupita Cano’s artwork will be displayed in Theatre on the Square Lobby

Since the program began in 2007, the Broadway Center has hosted five Community Dialogues with Urban Explorers (18-35 year olds), the African Heritage Community, Latino Community, LGBT and Allies, and Hip-Hop constituencies.  During the 2008-09 Season, Community Dialogues will be convened with Communities of Faith, the Military Service Community and the Pan-Asian Community. Dates and times will be announced soon.

The Community Dialogues program is sponsored with leadership grants from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation and the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation.

For further information about La Plaza Major, artist biographies or images, please contact Lacey Leffler at 253.573.2360 or by email at laceyl@broadwaycenter.org.  For more information about the Community Dialogues program, please contact Lucas Smiraldo at 253.591.5341 or lsmiraldo@broadwaycenter.org.

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