Teatro Vision

In recognition of the Hewlett Foundation’s 50th anniversary, the Hewlett 50 Arts Commissions initiative supports the creation and premiere of 50 exceptional works of performing arts. This grant will support Teatro Visión’s “Raíces: el libro de los caminos” (“Roots: The Book of Journeys”). The production is a binational, multimedia theater piece created through a collaboration between Teatro Visión of San Jose, and lead artist Salomon Huerta’s company, La Quinta Teatro ensemble of Mexico City. The central theme of the play will be the experience of migration between Mexico and the United States. This supplemental grant will help Teatro Visión with production expenses that increased due to pandemic-related challenges.

In 27 years, Teatro Vision has grown from an all-volunteer, itinerant Chicano theater ensemble to a nationally-recognized Latino arts institution, offering contemporary/classic plays at the Mexican Heritage Plaza in San Jose, as well as a theatre eduction program training educators and community organizers to use participatory theater for behavioral, social and educational roles. The organization had a period of growth in 2004-2008, and has been struggling ever since – because of the economic downturn, leadership changes, a challenging venue, and infrastructure challenges. They have been in the Hewlett portfolio since 1999, but their most recent general operating grant, just ended, will not be renewed. Because of the cultural and historical importance of this organization in the Bay Area and beyond, a modest grant will support the Packard Foundation’s larger investment in a nine-month strategic planning and organizational capacity-building process.