City sets opening date for Mexican American Cultural Center

The city’s long awaited Mexican American Cultural Center will open its doors to the public March 22.

The MACC, 201 W. Franklin Avenue, is the last signature bond project approved by voters in the $473 million 2012 quality of life bond. The other signature bond project, the La Nube STEAM Discovery Center opened in August. Voters in November decided they did not want the city to proceed with the long-delayed Downtown arena.

The grand opening celebration for the MACC will have activities such as guided tours of the facility, hands-on activities, two new exhibits and food trucks, among other activities and will also celebrate the renovations to the adjacent Cleveland Square Park. The center aims to celebrate the Mexican American community through art, dance, cooking and theater.

The MACC, located in the state-designated Downtown Arts District, is a three-story, 41,000-square-foot cultural center located as part of the Main Library and the El Paso Museum of History. 

The MACC was first budgeted at $5.75 million, but grew to about $16 million after community pushback and then community feedback for what was wanted out of the center.