CALA Alliance (Celebración Artística de las Américas) collaborates with artists and arts organizations to nurture artistic talent, focusing on artists from the Latin American diaspora. CALA Alliance advances its mission through innovative artist residencies, artist commissions, community workshops, and public programs that position the Southwest region as a fruitful site that acknowledges and contributes to the promotion of Latinx art that is inclusive of Indigenous, Afro-Latinx, and queer histories throughout the United States.
Established in 2010, CALA Alliance presented the "International Festival" in response to the state's anti-immigration laws and policies pushed from 2010 to 2014, including Senate Bill 1070, one of its broadest and strictest laws. Since 2016, CALA Alliance has transformed to offer year-round programming for students and adults to inspire creative expression and residencies for local, national, and international multidisciplinary artists. Today, the organization's vision remains clear: build resiliency and foster hope for the future through cultural programming that celebrates Latinidad across the US Southwest region, connecting us all to our rich cultural heritage.
These initiatives not only celebrate and elevate the voices of historically marginalized communities but also provide them with access to high-quality resources and art professionals. These programs include 1) Residencias Artísticas, 2) How I Became an Artísta, and 3) CALA Presenta.