Plaza de la Raza
3540 N. Mission RoadLos AngelesCA
90031-1935323-223-2475323-223-1804

Program: The School of Performing and Visual Arts Year Started: 1975 Focus: Multidisciplinary Arts Youth Served: 600 Ages: 5-21 Budget: N/A Situated in the heart of East Los Angeles, Plaza de la Raza is the only multidisciplinary cultural arts center serving Latinos in Los Angeles. Many of the youth who come to the center are from low-income families. All workshops are ongoing on a 10-week schedule, either for free or for a nominal fee. One of the program offered by Plaza de la Raza is The School of Performing and Visual Arts. It provides performing and visual arts classes after school and on Saturdays for participants from the surrounding neighborhood. Classes operate on a semester system and range from 2 to 4 hours in duration. Youth pay a $15 registration fee for participation in some 25 different classes. The School uses Latino instructors who serve as both teachers and role models for young people. In addition, The School offers The Community Arts Partnership program that pairs youth with art students from the California Institute for the Arts in one-on-one arts programs, held free-of-charge at community centers throughout Los Angeles. Students receive advanced training in such disciplines as guitar, salsa, jazz and theater. In the Young Playwrights Project, an artist-in-residence conducts a 10-week playwriting project for young people. Participants develop original plays, which are then presented in stage readings and at an annual production. Students draw upon mythology, dreams and personal experiences to create these plays.