Our Mission

La Sala’s mission is to support and uplift Latine/x artists, those who identify with or descend from the cultures of Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean, by expanding their access to professional education, creative spaces, institutional partnerships, broader audiences, and paid artistic opportunities. We exist to meet the cultural and professional needs of the growing Latine/x community in the Greater Seattle area and to ensure that Latine/x artists can thrive, connect, and contribute to the region’s artistic landscape.

Our Values

1. We are a Latine/x artist‑centered service organization committed to building unity, strength, and capacity within our creative community.

2. We adapt and evolve in response to community needs, staying grounded in listening and collective care.

3. We create paid opportunities for artists, ensuring their work, time, and expertise are valued.

Our History

Founded in the Pacific Northwest in 2007, La Sala began as a conduit linking Latine/x artists with one another and with the region’s arts and cultural institutions. From the start, we have worked to address gaps in visibility, access, and support for Latine/x creatives across disciplines.

Over the years, La Sala has built a strong presence within Seattle–King County’s expanding Latine/x population. Our work has included providing professional development, connecting artists to exhibition and performance spaces, and fostering relationships with museums, galleries, and community organizations.

La Sala has consistently prioritized fair compensation for artists through payments for creative services, sponsorship of community events, and participation in regional relief efforts during the pandemic. Our programming has ranged from small workshops to large public gatherings, all designed to expand audiences, commission new work, and strengthen the Latine/x creative network.

Today, La Sala continues to amplify the voices and talents of Latine/x artists, building a more connected and equitable cultural ecosystem for our region.

Our Founders

La Sala was founded in 2007 by a group of cultural leaders committed to strengthening visibility and opportunity for Latine/x artists in the Pacific Northwest: arts administrator and advocate Irene Gómez; visual artist and arts administrator Miguel Guillén; musician and arts manager Tony Gómez; lawyer and writer Catalina Cantú; and writer, teacher, and translator Wendy Call.

From its earliest years, La Sala has connected museums, galleries, and arts and cultural organizations with Latinx artists and arts educators, often working behind the scenes to raise the profile of Latine/x creatives and initiatives across the region. It remains the only arts organization in King County dedicated to serving the Latine/x arts community across all disciplines, forging connections, supporting career development, and creating arts experiences that position Latinx artists to thrive within the broader cultural landscape.

Our Work in the Community

Over the years, La Sala has partnered with organizations across the region to create arts spaces and events that center the Latine/x community. These collaborations have included the former Benham Gallery in downtown Seattle, Bellevue Arts Museum, Centilia at El Centro de la Raza, CoCA (Center on Contemporary Art) Seattle, the Good Arts Building in Pioneer Square, Columbia City Gallery, Hugo House, and the Seattle Public Library, among others.

We have organized and curated exhibitions, performances, community events, and professional development opportunities throughout Seattle, including Pioneer Square, the Central District, Capitol Hill, SoDo, South Park, White Center, and Beacon Hill—as well as in Bellevue, Bothell, Burien, and surrounding suburbs. Our work continues to expand access, visibility, and connection for Latinx artists across the region.