Grand Reopening of the ESB MACC
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center Grand Reopening
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center Grand Reopening
June 6th from 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
600 River St, Austin, TX 78701
RSVP on Facebook or Eventbrite!
The ESB-MACC welcomes the community back to our newly renovated facility with Juntos de Nuevo -a day of reconnection, celebration, and cultural expression. This free family-friendly event is free and open to all.
This reopening is more than a milestone. It is a celebration of identity, creativity, and the enduring cultural legacy of Austin’s communities. The City of Austin’s Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment department is honored to invite you to visit the renovated Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center.
Get Involved
- Volunteer for the event by signing up on Givepulse.
- RSVP and SHARE the event on Facebook and Eventbrite! Follow @ESBMACC!
- For media inquiries, contact Olivia Tamzarian
Upcoming Events
- Discover all of the MACC's events: MACC Events Calendar
Arrival and Parking
- The address of the ESB MACC is 600 River Street, at the intersection of Rainey Street and River Street.
- The ESB MACC parking lot will be closed to the public from Thursday, June 4th to midnight on Saturday, June 6th. There is no public parking on-site for the Grand Reopening on June 6th.
- Parking is free in the Holly Street neighborhood. Parking is also available at the Austin Convention Center Parking Lot 5th St. Garage (601 E. 5th St) with a special flat rate of $5 from 10:00am-2:00pm.
- There will be a free shuttle bus giving rides from the Sanchez Elementary parking lot to the ESB MACC and back from 10:30am-10:00pm. Please look for the "shuttle stop" signs.
- The ESB MACC building is accessible from Rainey Street and the Ann and Roy Butler Hike & Bike Trail. For an exact location to the entrance of the ESB MACC on the Hike & Bike trail, type in "Trail of Tejano Legends" on Google Maps.
- Ridesharing and public transit are encouraged. Bicycle parking is available on site.
- The June 6th Reopening coincides with the reopening of the Waterloo Greenway's Confluence.
Featured Artist & Performance Times on June 6th
| Performance Time | Featured Artist | Location within the MACC |
| 10:45am-11:45am | Mariachi Suroeste | Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the Snake Path (Puerta 4) |
| 11:45am-2:30pm | DJ Mira Mira (Xochi Solis) | Main Stage, Outdoor (Zocalo) |
| 1:45pm-2:30pm | Ballet Folklorico de Austin | Auditorium, Indoor |
| 2:30-3:30pm | Fuzion (Mariachi) | Main Stage, Outdoor (Zocalo) |
| 4:00-5:00pm | Andrea Daniela | Main Stage, Outdoor (Zocalo) |
| 5:00pm-5:30pm | Los Fandangueros de Austin | Snakepath Head, near Trail (outdoor) |
| 5:30-6:30pm | La Moña Loca | Main Stage, Outdoor (Zocalo) |
| 6:30-7:00pm | Ballet Folklorico Maricruz | Main Stage, Outdoor (Zocalo) - dancers in front of stage |
| 7:00pm-8:15pm | Los Sabrosos de La Cumbia | Main Stage, Outdoor (Zocalo) |
| 8:40pm-9:00pm | Danza Azteca Guadalupana | Main Stage, Outdoor (Zocalo) - dancers in front of stage |
Event Highlights- June 6th
3 stages with live music under the Zocalo. The main "Zocalo Stage" is outside on our plaza. There will also be an outdoor stage at the edge of the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail, at the head of the "snake path". There are also performances in the Auditorium, inside.
Tours of newly renovated indoor & outdoor spaces. Tour times are 12:00pm, 12:30pm, 1:00pm, and 1:30pm. Anyone can join the tour- meet at the purple MACC tent which is in the middle of the Zocalo plaza.
All-ages arts, dance, music, theater, and culinary workshops. See workshop schedule below.
Free children’s art activities in the new youth education classrooms
Art exhibits on view in the NEW Community Gallery (1st floor), Sam Z. Coronado Gallery (2nd floor), and Auditorium Atrium (1st floor)
Community Resource Fair featuring local nonprofits.
Artisan Vendor Market supporting local Latino/a/e entrepreneurs.
Food trucks on site.
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Featured Artist: Mariachi Suroeste
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Featured Artist: DJ Mira Mira (Xochi Solis)
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Featured Artist: Ballet Folklorico de Austin
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Featured Artist: Fuzion (Mariachi Band)
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Featured Artist: Los Fandangueros de Austin
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Featured Artist: Andrea Daniela
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Featured Artist: La Moña Loca
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Featured Artist: Ballet Folklorico MariCruz
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Featured Artist: Los Sabrosos de la Cumbia
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Featured Artist: Danza Azteca Guadalupana
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Artwork by Courtney Enriquez inspired by "El Musico"
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Artwork by Jose Trevino, part of the Gilberto Cardenas and Dolores Garcia Collection
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Informative panel on the history of the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center
Current Visual Art Exhibitions - On View Beginning June 6th
Visual Art Exhibits
There will be THREE visual art exhibits on view when the ESB MACC reopens on June 6th! They will be open for public viewing during the Reopening, from 12:00pm-7:00pm. After the reopening, they will be on view during operating hours.
Loteriafest: Paintings by Courtney Enriquez
Location: Auditorium Atrium, 1st Floor
Courtney's work is rooted in cultural heritage, spiritual reflection, and lived experience. Deeply inspired by the vibrant imagery of Mexican Lotería -a century-old game that brings families together. She reimagines iconic figures like La Dama; from the Lotería game of chance as modern-day *Chingonas* - dazzling, empowered, and unapologetically confident. Surrounded by roses and cacti, symbols of resilience and beauty, my subjects stand tall against layered, textured backdrops that pulse with energy.
Mitote: Selections from the Gilberto Cardenas & Dolores Carillo Garcia Collection
Location: Sam Z. Coronado Gallery, 2nd Floor
"Mitote" comes from the Nahuatl word “mitotiqui”- to dance, gather, celebrate together, and make joyful noise. Gilberto Cardenas and Dolores Carillo Garcia have lent iconic paintings, sculptures, photography, printmaking, and mixed media works by well-known Chicano artists, many of whom have roots in Central Texas. Each piece carries its own story while contributing to a larger conversation about cultural heritage, and the relationships that shape our communities.
Imagination Knows No Borders: The Story of the ESB MACC
Community Gallery, First Floor
This history exhibit tells the story of how the ESB MACC came to be. During the Chicano Movement of the 1970’s, students at UT Austin advocated for the establishment of the Cultural Center that we now know as the "MACC". What role did activism play in the establishment of the ESB MACC? How was the location of the ESB MACC chosen? As we look ahead in 2026, how does the MACC continue to serve the communities in Austin and beyond? Contributors to this exhibit are: Dr. Emilio Zamora, writer; Laura Esparza, curator; Dr. Cassie Smith, researcher and Education Specialist; Ana Carrasco, translator.
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on June 6th
The June 6th Grand Reopening will start with a ceremony to inaugurate the building. City officials will gather by 10:45am at the "North Lawn", now "Gate/Puerta 4", for the ribbon cutting ceremony which lasts from 11:00am-12:00pm. The general public is welcome to join the ribbon cutting ceremony. There will be commemorative speeches and a photo opportunity to re-create the above photo, from the original ESB MACC opening in September 2007.
Related Information:
ESB MACC Phase 2 Official Project Page
ESB MACC Phase 2 History & Role in the Community
Expanded Building Features
The MACC Phase 2 Project was a Joint Venture with Miro Rivera Architects (Austin) and Tatiana Bilbao (Mexico). The Phase 2 expansion and renovation includes the addition of new spaces - two new "wings" on either side of the curved building, and renovation to existing spaces.
Highlights of the renovations include:
- New music rehearsal spaces
- New education classrooms
- New community gallery
- New dedicated storage spaces
- New "Cocina" teaching kitchen
- Natural light, Texas Native plants and landscaping
- Enhanced safety features, controlled perimeter of the Zocalo Plaza, & new outdoor shade structure
Media
To book a preview tour of the MACC, call us at 512-974-3772. There is a free media kit linked below that contains images and graphics that anyone can use to promote the grand reopening. See "sneak peak" photos, aerial videos and more! For media questions, contact Olivia.Tamzarian@austintexas.gov