Fundraiser for CreArte Latino Cultural Center celebrates food and culture of Latin America

Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·2 min read
The CreArte Latino Cultural Center, which serves as a creative hub for the growing Latino/Hispanic communities in Sarasota and Manatee counties, is holding a fundraising event on Thursday from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
The CreArte Latino Cultural Center, which serves as a creative hub for the growing Latino/Hispanic communities in Sarasota and Manatee counties, is holding a fundraising event on Thursday from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

The CreArte Latino Cultural Center will present “A Taste of Latin America,” a fundraising event that celebrates the food and culture of Latin America, on Thursday from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at CreArte Latino, 8251 15th St. E., in Sarasota.

The evening, which includes a dance performance by local artists, is sponsored by the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Mi Lic Hispano Abogados de Accidentes, and an anonymous donor. To purchase tickets ($100), visit creartelatino.org.

“CreArte’s mission is to be a channel for cultural exchange between Latinx/Hispanics and the community at large through the arts, education, and service,” said Carol Hartz, CreArte’s executive director. “Our hope is that by offering guests an authentic taste of Latin American culture, we will encourage them to explore more aspects of Latin American life.”

Food for “A Taste of Latin America” will be provided by The Colombian Point; Huanchaco Peruvian Grill; La Guadalupana (Dominican Caribbean); Mirnas Cuban Cuisine; and La Brisa Tacos y Mariscos (Mexican). Local dancers Yajahira and Sebastian Galindo will represent Jalisco, Mexico, through traditional dance, song and costume.

“CreArte has experienced tremendous growth in a few short years,” Hartz s said. “The Sarasota and Manatee communities have strongly supported us, confirming that our services and events are important to them. Our goal is to expand our offerings to reach more native English speakers in ways that do not require an understanding of Spanish. Dance, music, and theatrical productions in Spanish with English subtitles is one important way to make CreArte accessible to the larger community.”

Hartz said CreArte is currently working on several community outreach initiatives that involve collaboration. In the past year, initiatives have included theater productions presented in Spanish and English; the popular online Amigos Book Club; theater workshops for children and adults; and “Conversemos en Español,” an online class for English speakers.

For more information about CreArte Latino Cultural Center, visit creartelatino.org or CreArte Latino on Facebook.

Submitted by Su Byron

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: CreArte Latino Cultural Center plans fundraiser to support mission