A new center honoring Latinx art and culture is making its way to Western North Carolina. Hendersonville-based non-profit Hola Community Arts has acquired a new space in Jackson Park for public art installations and classes.
The Henderson County board of commissioners last week approved the lease agreement. Hola Executive Director Adriana Chavela says the aim is to increase the visibility of Latin American cultures -- reflected in both the art and in visitors to the center
“We will have exhibits from local artists and international artists," Chavela said. "And we are able to serve everyone. No matter if they can give a donation or not, this is going to be for everyone.”
Chavela says an opening date for Hola Cultural Center hasn’t been set. When it opens, she says, it will host free classes and partner with other community groups to host public events.
Hola founder Adriana Chavela says the idea for the center came from conversations in the Latinx community about needing a place for classes and events. Henderson County has a larger Latinx population per capita compared to Buncombe County, at nearly 10 percent officially. It could be significantly higher because of the annual influx of migrant farmworkers. Chavela says she hopes the Cultural Center will offer something for those seasonal residents, too.
“For people that if they go back to their countries, when their work permit is over, maybe they go back and think of the cultural center,” Chavela said.
Also last week, Chavela was appointed to the Governor’s Advisory Council on Hispanic/Latino Affairs to serve on its Economic Development Subcommittee.
