Renowned American playwright and film director Luis Valdez visits UTSA

Luis Valdez

(July 13, 2015) -- UTSA will host the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC), July 13-18, for its 15th Leadership Institute, a highly competitive program that convenes Latino arts leaders from across the nation for an intensive training in nonprofit arts management and leadership development.

To commemorate the institute's 15th anniversary, NALAC has invited renowned American playwright, actor, writer and film director Luis Valdez to deliver a keynote speech at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 18 in the Buena Vista Building's Aula Canaria Auditorium (BVB 1.328) at the UTSA Downtown Campus. The event is free and open to the public.

Often regarded as the pioneer of Chicano theater in the U.S., Valdez is an iconic figure in the landscape of American and Latino art. He is best known for his play Zoot Suit, his movie La Bamba, and his creation of El Teatro Campesino – a forceful catalyst of 20th century theatre, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

His work brings to life the complexity and struggle of farmworkers, the oppressed, working and middle classes, the excluded and urban youth.

Headquartered just blocks from the UTSA Downtown Campus, NALAC is the nation's only multidisciplinary Latino arts service organization. For 26 years, NALAC has delivered programs that stabilize and revitalize the U.S. Latino arts and cultural sector by providing critical advocacy, funding, networking opportunities, leadership development and professional training for Latino artists and arts organizations in every region of the country.

The 15th NALAC Leadership Institute is sponsored in part by the UTSA Office of the President, UTSA Office of the Vice President for Community Services and the Office of the Senior Vice Provost for UTSA Downtown and Academic and Faculty Support.

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