September 15 kicks off the month-long celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, recognizing the influence and many contributions of the Latinx and Hispanic communities to American society. People of Latin descent helped build the foundation of many US institutions, created the overarching culture of several major US cities, and established influential organizations advancing humanitarian, commercial, and artistic causes. This month, as we recognize and celebrate these communities, Association Headquarters will be recognizing association leaders who are part of the Latinx and Hispanic communities for their work serving associations and non-profit organizations.
- Hispanic refers to a person who is from or has heritage in, a Spanish-speaking country.
- Latino/a or Latinx refers to a person who is from or has heritage in, a country in Latin America
Influencing Art and Culture
The National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC)* provides critical advocacy, funding, networking opportunities, leadership development, and professional training for Latino artists and arts organizations in every region of the US, allowing the Latino community and culture to continue to flourish around the country. The Latinx art community was deprived of available expression and resources, which changed in 1989 when NALAC was founded.
María López De León, current NALAC president and CEO, was made executive director of NALAC in 2001 and served under the Obama administration on the National Council on the Arts in 2013, filling the most important arts-related position in the US. Under De León’s continued leadership, the organization has evolved to include several financial support systems for artists, including grant programs, the NALAC Fund for the Arts, and various partnerships with large organizations. These initiatives allow Latinx artists to display their true talents while being backed with sufficient funds that recognize the true impact these artists have on communities.
NALAC hopes to advance the Latinx arts sector enough to create a foundation that supports further diversity in arts and culture communities. Recently, NALAC has been working to expand research components of the organization, further Latinx representation in rural communities, and continue to empower Latino and Hispanic artists.
Additional Resources
National Hispanic Heritage Month
*NALAC is not an AH Client Partner
