Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center Events

The ESB-MACC building is currently closed to the public. For information on the building expansion and renovation, visit MaccPhase2. Our programs are taking places at Recreation Centers, Libraries, and other sites!

See a full calendar of Museums and Cultural programs! (at various locations such as the Carver, DAC, AARC, etc)

Check our Facebook (@ESBMACC) for the most up-to-date event details.

PROGRAMS BY TYPE:

Holistic Wellness Program

All classes are free & bilingual (English and Spanish) - Todas las clases son gratis y bilingües (inglès y español) View the MACC Holistic Wellness Calendar in English/Spanish. For questions, please email maccwellness@austintexas.gov

Beginner's Swim Lesson

📍 Mabel Davis Municipal Pool | 3427 Parker Ln. Austin, TX
⏰ Tuesday & Thursday @ 6-6:40pm
📅 June 10 - July 3rd

📍 Colony Park Pool | 7201 Colony Loop Dr, Austin, TX
⏰ Monday and Wednesday @ 6-6:40pm
📅 July 7 - July 30th

Students will become familiar with the aquatic environment and acquire rudimentary aquatic skills to develop positive attitudes and safe practices in and around the water.

Two separate concurrent classes available for Adult and Youth (5-17) learners.
**NO CLASS THURS, JUN 19**
**CHILDREN MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT**

Pre-registration required. Please email maccwellness@austintexas.gov

Español

Clases de Natación para Principiantes

📍 Mabel Davis Municipal Pool | 3427 Parker Ln. Austin, TX
⏰Martes y Jueves @ 6-6:40pm
📅 10 de junio - 3 de Julio

📍 Colony Park Pool | 7201 Colony Loop Dr, Austin, TX
⏰ Lunes y Miércoles @ 6-6:40pm
📅 7- 30 de Julio

Los estudiantes aprenderan a sentirse cómodos en el agua y habilidades acuáticas básicas para desarrollar actitudes positivas y prácticas seguras dentro y alrededor del agua. Dos clases concurrentes separadas disponibles para adultos y jóvenes (5-17).

**NO HAY CLASE EL JUEVES 19 DE JUNIO**
**LOS NIÑOS DEBEN IR ACOMPAÑADOS POR UN ADULTO**

Se requiere pre-registro. Envíe un email a maccwellness@austintexas.gov

Chair Yoga participants performing stretches while seated in a chair

Chair Yoga with Sana Yoga

⏰ 3rd Wednesday of each month @ 10am
📍 Dove Springs Recreation Center| 5801 Ainez Dr, Austin, TX 78744

⏰ 3rd Friday of each month @ 10:30am
📍 Windsor Park Library| 5833 Westminster Dr, Austin, TX 78723

A gentle form of yoga that can be performed seated in a chair. These modification make yoga accessible to people with various physical abilities

Español

Yoga en silla con Sana Yoga

⏰ Tercer miércoles del mes @ 10am
📍 Dove Springs Recreation Center| 5801 Ainez Dr, Austin, TX 78744

⏰ Tercer viernes del mes @ 10:30am
Windsor Park Library| 5833 Westminster Dr, Austin, TX 78723

Una forma suave de yoga que se puede practicar sentado en una silla. Estas modificaciones hacen que el yoga sea accesible para personas con diferentes capacidades físicas

Activities/Collaborations

Tejano Genealogy Society of Austin

The purpose of TGSA is to foster excellence in genealogy through educational programs and projects that preserve, produce and disseminate knowledge of genealogical or historical value. Tejano Genealogy Society of Austin has monthly Saturday meetings and Thursday Study Group sessions at the Carver Genealogy Center. The Genealogy Center is the little house facing the street. On the right side of it is the Carver Library and behind it is the Carver Museum. It is a big complex. You will find parking in front and on the south and north sides of the complex. If you park on the north side be prepared to do some climbing---lots of steps! One more important thing---no food is allowed in the building, so there will be no coffee or pan dulce. - TGSA Staff

WHO: All Ages
WHEN: 1st Saturdays of the month from 10AM - 12PM
WHERE: G.W. Carver Museum & Cultural Center 1165 Angelina St, Austin, TX 78702

CONTACT: Minnie Wilson: minswil@yahoo.com

The Bronze Band

The Bronze Community Band Project

The Bronze Community Band Project (BCBP) is a group of Austin musicians dedicated to preserving Mexican American music. Rooted in community-based practice, the project provides culturally relevant music education in the regional bajo-sexto conjunto and orquesta tradition of Mexican American heritage. The Bronze Community Band Project’s mission is to research, promote and preserve the bi-musical heritage of the Mexican American community.

Artistic Director Robert Rivera Ojeda developed the project to give young adult to elder instrumentalists and vocalists an opportunity to: 1) increase their musicianship skills through basic music reading literacy, 2) showcase their talent, and 3) capture Mexican American music (normally passed down by oral tradition) in written notated form.

BCBP have repeatedly taught and performed at ESB-MACC in their commitment to music preservation and community education, bridging the young and older generations. It has also collaborated with other esteemed City of Austin partners like the Oakwood Cemetery and Austin Central Library in dedication to keeping Mexican American music alive and flourishing in Austin!

Examples of past collaborations with the Bronze Community Band Project include:

2018 - First showcase of the “Tribute To La Musica Chicana”at the Oswaldo Cantu Pan American Recreation Center.

2019 - Received the Raza Award at the 34th Annual Dia de la Raza Celebration presented by ESB-MACC

2019 - Second showcase of the “Tribute To La Musica Chicana” at the Austin Central Library. Partly funded by the Austin Central Library, Austin Cultural Arts Division, and ESB-MACC.

2020 - Historical presentation of Old California and Texas music (1769-1850) at the Austin Oakwood Cemetery (as part of a program called “Sacrificios”.)

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Contact Robert Ojeda: robertojeda937@gmail.com
Contact Marie Ortiz marie.ortiz@austintexas.gov

Video (Below) The BCBP presented Old California and Texas music (1769-1850) at the Austin Oakwood Cemetery as part of their program called “Sacrificios". Their music can also be found at Reverb Nation.

MACC Education Department

Academia Cuauhtli:

Academia Cuauhtli is made up of a coalition of educators and community advocates helping families explore their cultural heritage through an inclusive curriculum centering the language, art, and history of Latinx/a/o/e and Indigenous cultures. Academia Cuauhtli provides a range of free extracurricular programs, including its Saturday bilingual arts program and summer coding camp, offered in partnership with Aztech Kidz Code.

Questions? Email katya.guzman@austintexas.gov

Students of the Cosecha summer camp sit with an instructor on a bench inside the Community Gallery

SUMMER CAMP
with the MACC Education Department

We are proud to offer dual-language cultural arts camps during Spring and Summer breaks. In these camps, youth explore the themes of Social and Environmental Justice as they rotate through curriculum in music, dance, visual art, theatre, and puppetry. Students learn the history of social movements throughout Latinx communities while learning the importance of caring for people, the environment, and the world around us.

Details for 2025 Camps will be posted at AustinTexas.gov/SummerCamps

Photo of an artists during the opening of the Figuralo Youth Exhibit in 2021

Figúralo: Youth Exhibit
with the MACC Education Department

The Youth Exhibit, Figúralo is the annual youth exhibit featuring artwork from young artists from across central Texas. Figúralo showcases the exploration of artistic mediums through figurines, figurative images and figurative narratives. This winter exhibit asks the question, where can my imagination take me?

WHERE: Virtual Exhibition through the Smithsonian Learning Lab

Check out the last year's digital exhibit on the Smithsonian Learning Lab!

Signature Events

Each year the ESB-MACC hosts four signature events organized for the community to honor, share, and celebrate our culture and heritage. Always free to attend and participate. Learn more about our yearly events below!

Viva Mexico with mariachi next to horse

Viva Mexico

Viva Mexico is hosted every year in September close to the 15th of September. In 2025, the date and location of Viva Mexico is TBD. All details will be updated at www.austintexas.gov/vivamexico. The day of Mexico's Independence from Spain is remembered on the 16th of September. Mexico's father of independence is Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, who started the revolt on the eve of the 15th of September.

MACC Las Mujer

La Mujer

A celebration of women inspired by the first feminist of the New World, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, with food, art, and performances by womxn. All details for the 2025 La Mujer event that occured on April 26, 2025 as well as details on our La Mujer Mosaic Mural can be found at https://www.austintexas.gov/MACCLaMujer

Attendees at the 2021 Awards of Excellence Event

Awards of Excellence

Award Ceremony recognizing remarkable Latinx for the highest artistic excellence they bring to the cultural arts of Austin, TX. The Awards took place on June 28, 2025 at the Long Center.

Children attending the 2021 Day of the Dead Celebration in skull-like face paint

Dia De Los Muertos

This beloved tradition brings family and community together to celebrate the lives of our ancestors, family, and friends, veterans, and public figures. This multi-day celebration and festival includes kid's activities, local markets, food trucks, community altar exhibits, music, & dance performances.

In 2025, the MACC's Day of the Dead celebration will take place on Saturday, November 1st at the MACC when it reopens to the public!

COLLABORATE WITH US!

The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center is a vibrant arts center with 100,000 annual visitors. Since 2007, we have been offering countless cultural events and art classes focusing on performing arts, music, literature, film screenings, and the Latino Arts Residency Program. A collaboration is a one-time presentation that is co-produced with the ESB-MACC. It can be a panel discussion, music or theater presentation, film screenings or community engagement discussion. The ESB-MACC organizes year-round activities and also cooperates with a large number of partners who complete and strengthen programming through rentals and collaborations.