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In collaboration since 2001 with the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture, our formal affiliation in 2005 named us Puerto Rico's Ambassadors in Texas and the Southwest. Our achievement and quality have been validated since 2001 by annual support from the National Endowment for the Arts (most years), Texas Commission on the Arts, City of Austin Cultural Arts Division, NEA Chairman's Award (2007), and Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities (since 2011).
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We are a Puerto Rican community bonded like Family, under our Bandera of cultural arts and Taino living traditions. It takes a village to raise a child; we are that village, for them and for each other. You must travel to faraway places like Chicago or New York City to enjoy another cultural center like ours! Our East Austin facility is home to Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance (PRFDance), our performing company of dancers, musicians, and juniors who perform in large and small events throughout the year.
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We serve the community with performance and cultural events,
12 weekly performing arts programs, and opportunities to learn Taino heritage.
Our multipurpose facility includes indoor and outdoor areas where free,
monthly cultural events and Taino gatherings attract tourism and
give a resource-limited community opportunity to participate in living traditions.
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We share Taino history and traditions, music, dance, language, and more -- everyday! Our Yukayeke Yara Cu (Tribe of the Sacred Place) is a Taino tribe of blood descendants and Guaytiao proudly serving Central Texas. Yara Taino & Guaytiao, our center's active indigenous community, celebrates and shares Taino living traditions with the community at-large since 2008. We welcome all and embrace the historically underserved whose access to the arts is limited by economics.
Mission & History - Video!!