[Source: Jahna Berry, Arizona Republic] — A consortium of Latino arts groups has taken several early steps to bring a small Latino cultural center to downtown Phoenix. That includes a kickoff fundraiser tonight that will help the group raise money for that center and lay the groundwork for a $10 million Phoenix facility they want to build years down the road. But Advocates for Latin@ Arts & Culture Consortium, Inc. may have to postpone its plans to open that temporary center in the fall.
The group has key fund-raising and bureaucratic hurdles to clear before that space could open its doors:
- The group has yet to secure a $25,000 loan that would provide the initial money for the temporary cultural center.
- The consortium has had early discussions with Phoenix officials about leasing the city-owned space that used to house the Museo Chicano, a small museum that closed in January. But the group needs to submit a detailed proposal and a business plan, said Kathy Wenger, a deputy director at the Phoenix Convention Center, which manages the lease for that storefront.
- Any lease would need to be approved by a City Council subcommittee and the full council.
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Downtown Voices Coalition 