El Centro Cultural del Taco
Fast food giant Del Taco and Centro Cultural de la Raza become
fast food compadres
July 23, 2001. San Diego, CA--El Centro Cultural de la Raza has
been the heart of the Chicano art world in San Diego since activists
occupied the empty water tower in 1971. But recently, dramatic changes
have been visited upon the venerable Centro. A new board of directors
took over two years ago and now a corporate style approach to raising
money for the arts is making itself manifest.
Nano Carbon, Director of the Centro, proudly announced today that
the Del Taco Corporation has agreed to give a $50 million dollar
grant to the Centro to continue its work and aid in arts programming.
"While the Centro regrets the loss of artistic identity this
new partnership portends, we nevertheless have decided to move forward
and officially change the name of El Centro Cultural de la Raza
to El Centro Cultural del Taco."
Shortly after the Centro's announcement, a work crew erected a
shiny new Del Taco sign over the colorful Centro building. Meanwhile
a hastily organized group of school children assembled on the grass
outside the Centro and began chanting, "Drive-bys no! Drive-throughs,
yes!"
Wall Street analysts said the collapse of federal funding for the
arts has made investing in community cultural centers a win-win
situation for civic-minded corporations.
"Del Taco stands for fresh quality Mexican food prepared to
order and the Centro stands for fresh quality Mexicans," said
Kelly Cortez, director of marketing for Del Taco. "In honor
of our new partnership we will erase the stale, outdated image of
Geronimo from the Centro's mural and replace it with Del
Taco, our new Zorro-like corporate symbol. "
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