Founded in 1983 as a non-profit corporation by Hispanic community leaders, the National Hispanic Cultural Center Foundation (NHCCF) worked from 1983 to 1999 to support hispanic artists and cultural organizations as well as develop and offer educational programs for students of all ages.  The founders’ dream of a place where national and international artists could display their talents and where visitors from throughout the world can experience them came true in 2000 with the opening of the National Hispanic Cultural Center (NHCC).  The NHCC, located along the Camino Real in the historic Barelas neighborhood of Albuquerque, New Mexico, now serves as a national focal point for the study, advancement, and presentation of Hispanic arts, culture, and humanities, including technical capabilities for distance education. 

 

The NHCCF is dedicated solely to raising the funds necessary to complete the construction of the NHCC, supporting its programming needs, and building a legacy for future generations.

 

The facilities of the NHCC give thousands of visitors an overall sense of Hispanic culture through theatre, visual arts, dance, music, film, scholarly works, literature, and genealogy.  The NHCC and its Foundation are dedicated to supporting the cross-cultural appreciation and understanding of Hispanic culture by preserving and showcasing historic and contemporary Hispanic arts, humanities, and achievements over the past 400 years.  Despite being only 11 years old, the NHCC is the fastest-growing state cultural institution in New Mexico, ranking second in attendance figures. 

 

The NHCC was conceived by a local group of artists and community leaders more than 25 years ago and is financed by the state legislature and the national congress.  Located on 51 acres along the Rio Grande and the Camino Real, the facility is comprised of four buildings:  Intel Center for Technology and Visual Arts, History and Literary Arts Building, Roy E. Disney Center for Performing Arts, Pete Domenici Education Building and a Torreón housing a fresco mural illustrating the history of Hispanics from pre-Roman times to the present.  The 11,000-square foot Art Museum is divided into three main galleries surrounding a sculpture courtyard.  The facilities also include spaces dedicated to collections storage, exhibition preparation, construction, registration, and photography. 

 

The NHCC is the first comprehensive cultural institution of its kind in New Mexico and the Southwest region.  It is also one of the few cultural institutions in the country that has been financially supported by the state and federal government for construction and administrative costs.  Located in Albuquerque’s South Valley, the NHCC is in a prime location to serve a section of the city that has been underserved and challenged in its quality of life and low economic earning power.  Several predominantly Hispanic elementary and middle schools are located near the NHCC, providing opportunities for area children to participate in educational and culturally enriching programs and activities. 

 

 

The NHCC is the only national cultural institution – and thus a national focal point – dedicated to the study, advancement, and presentation of Hispanic culture, arts, and humanities, including technical capabilities for distance education.  Located along the Camino Real in the historic Barelas neighborhood of Albuquerque, New Mexico, the NHCC’s facilities will occupy 55 acres when all phases of construction are completed.  These facilities already give thousands of visitors an overall sense of Hispanic culture through theatre, visual arts, dance, music, film, scholarly works, literature, and genealogy.