The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC) has officially reopened its doors after a comprehensive renovation lasting three and a half years. The revitalized center now boasts new galleries, a teaching kitchen, green spaces, and classrooms, all designed to enhance community engagement and cultural appreciation.
Olivia Tamzarian, the marketing representative for the MACC, expressed her enthusiasm ahead of the grand reopening, stating, “I just can’t wait to see people walking around and enjoying, pointing and laughing, dancing and singing because the MACC is just sitting here waiting to be filled up with people again. The community really deserves the space back.”
The center showcases a variety of artwork from local Chicano and Latino artists, including pieces by Austin-based Courtney Enriquez, who draws inspiration from Mexican lotería. Enriquez emphasized the significance of having a dedicated space for local Latino artists, reflecting on the center’s transformation from a barren area to a vibrant cultural hub. “I remember when there was absolutely nothing here but barns… and just seeing it all come to fruition is a wonderful thing with all the people coming in,” she remarked.
Designed in a half-circle shape, the MACC features an inner plaza that overlooks downtown and the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail. At its heart lies the Perez-Ramos Plaza, intended to serve as a zócalo, akin to the central public squares found in many Mexican cities. The reopening festivities included lively performances from mariachi bands, ballet folklórico dancers, and danza azteca performers.
Among the notable renovations is a shaded structure above the plaza, designed to cast shadows reminiscent of papel picado, the traditional Mexican decorative paper cut into intricate designs. The center received $27 million for these Phase 2 renovations from a city bond approved in 2018, with Tamzarian noting that the MACC’s development has always been envisioned in phases, leaving room for future enhancements.
Since its inception in 2007, after over thirty years of advocacy from Austin’s Latino community and University of Texas students, the MACC has aimed to serve as a cultural beacon. Situated in the Rainey Street Historic District, Tamzarian highlighted its historical significance as a former hub for working-class Mexican American families. Before its transformation into the MACC, the building functioned as a warehouse and a community gathering space.
However, Tamzarian acknowledged that gentrification has posed challenges for the MACC, pushing many families further from the city center. “When this area was considered for the location of the cultural center, it was still a place where families could walk to the center. Now, I don’t see a lot of families, working families residing in this area,” she stated.
Brooke Ornelas, a long-time Austin resident, attended the reopening and expressed excitement about returning for cooking classes and exploring upcoming Chicano art exhibitions. She underscored the importance of cultural spaces like the MACC, particularly as Austin continues to evolve. “The city has grown beautifully in some ways, but we have also sort of become so homogenized here. It’s really nice to remember and dive into one culture and to celebrate it,” Ornelas shared, highlighting the value of experiencing diverse aspects of culture, from art to food and architecture.
