Welcome to
Centro Cultural De La Raza
Bienvenides al
Centro Cultural De La Raza
Video shows Centro Cultural De La Raza gallery during the Roberto R. Pozos Solo Exhibition in 2024.
The Centro's mission is to create, preserve, promote and educate about Chicano, Mexican, Indigenous, and Latinx art and culture.
The seed of San Diego's Centro Cultural de la Raza was first planted in 1970 at the Ford Building, and inaugurated in its current location on July 11, 1971, as a Chicano Community Cultural Center that functions as an alternative space to encourage and facilitate artistic expression and cultural exchange in the San Diego/Tijuana border region.
The Centro Cultural de la Raza Annual Report 2026
Our 2026 Annual Report offers a look into the work, programming, projects, and community initiatives that have shaped Centro Cultural de la Raza over the past year.
Explore the full report below to learn more about what we have been creating, supporting, and building together, as well as the many ways you can get involved and be part of our ongoing work in the community.
Read the Full 2026 Annual Report https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bVTGa82qSBqSLTtLLzwEYSPYh88S54KD/view?usp=sharing
Community Bulletin
future events
Exhibitions
Volunteer
Tianguis
Workshops
Community announcements
Community Voices
Eliana Allize
(They/Them/Elle)
“Centro has been my first political home here in San Diego. I have been coming to this space since 2019 as a teen youth, and been nourished by community here. The Centro has helped me channel my connection for collective life and leadership through caring about my community. I have been working at the compost and gardening space for a few years now and it has been such an honor watching the space grow."
Metztli Pavia
(They/Them/Elle)
“Centro for me has been a safe space here in Kumeyaay lands (San Diego) for undocu & trans folks. I am so grateful to have been able to volunteer here for the past 2 years with Mat Ichech Compost and be in a community space where they value and uplift voices from all communities. The community at Centro is like no other, everyone here, from paid staff to volunteers are all people working hard to uplift not only the our community but all oppressed people. Centro’s doors are always open"
Xochitl Ozomatli
Centro Cultural de la Raza was established in 1971 by San Diego Chicana/o/x artists and activists who demanded a cultural space in Balboa Park where they could produce and exhibit art directly controlled by Chican@s and in service of the Chican@ community.
The exterior and interior walls of the building are decorated with the very murals created by Chican@ artists and activists during that time. However, only one of Centro’s existing murals—“Sun Face” by Antonia Perez—is credited to a woman-identified artist.
In March 2026, the International Women’s Day organizing committee at Centro Cultural de la Raza held a fundraiser with the goal of one day commissioning women-identified and gender-nonbinary artists to design and paint a serpiente-inspired mural on the building’s new wood skirt.
We are excited to announce that the time has come! We are currently seeking muralists to submit proposals for this project.
Women-identified and gender-nonbinary muralists are strongly encouraged to apply.
For more info and to apply:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdDMloSw2sfOHlx9FJsVsYedn7GeIHW7yICL_86R6ygzycllg/viewform
“The first time I came to Centro I was visiting the space with my mom, and I loved the space. All the colors, the art, the people, the tiendita. I was invited to volunteer with the compost group in 2022. I have been able to explore my relationship to the land, to revolutionary activism, and the community through being a part of Centro. It has been the place I have felt most hopeful about our community’s future. I hope to continue growing alongside Centro .”
El Centro Cultural de la Raza fue establecido en 1971 por artistas y activistas Chicana/o/x de San Diego que exigieron un espacio cultural en Balboa Park donde pudieran producir y exhibir arte bajo el control directo de la comunidad Chicana y al servicio de la comunidad Chican@.
Las paredes exteriores e interiores del edificio están decoradas con los mismos murales creados por artistas y activistas Chican@s durante esa época. Sin embargo, de los murales existentes del Centro, solamente uno—“Sun Face” de Antonia Perez—está acreditado a una artista identificada como mujer.
En marzo de 2026, el comitĂ© organizador del DĂa Internacional de la Mujer del Centro Cultural de la Raza realizĂł una recaudaciĂłn de fondos con la esperanza de algĂşn dĂa poder encargar a artistas mujeres y artistas de gĂ©nero no binario el diseño y la creaciĂłn de un mural inspirado en la serpiente sobre el nuevo revestimiento de madera del edificio.
¡Nos complace anunciar que ese momento ha llegado! Actualmente estamos buscando muralistas para presentar sus propuestas para este proyecto.
Se invita especialmente a postularse a muralistas identificadas como mujeres y muralistas de género no binario.
Para mas info y aplicar:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdDMloSw2sfOHlx9FJsVsYedn7GeIHW7yICL_86R6ygzycllg/viewform
Come Visit Us
Admission fee: The suggested donation is $7.00
As a nonprofit organization, we rely on your generous contributions to continue offering vibrant cultural programming that connects and inspires the San Diego community. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Your support helps sustain our shared creative space.
Hours of Operation
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 12-5pm
Wednesday: 12-5pm
Thursday: 12-5pm
Friday: 12-5pm
Saturday: 12-5pm
Sunday: 12-5pm
2004 Park Blvd, San Diego, Ca 92101
CENTRO CULTURAL DE LA RAZA COUNTS WITH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF
