Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center

Cultural center · Town Lake

Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center

Cultural center · Town Lake

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600 River St, Austin, TX 78701

Photos

Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by Photo courtesy of Austin Parks and Recreation Department
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center by null

Highlights

The Mexican American Cultural Arts Center is a vibrant hub in Austin showcasing Latino arts and culture through exhibitions, classes, and lively community events.  

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600 River St, Austin, TX 78701 Get directions

austintexas.gov
@austintexasgov

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600 River St, Austin, TX 78701 Get directions

+1 512 974 3772
austintexas.gov
@austintexasgov
𝕏
@ESBMACC

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Last updated

Jul 20, 2025

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"From music to dance to cuisine, the influence of Mexicois strong inthe culture ofTexas and Austin . This center—dedicated to the preservation, creation, presentation, and promotion of the cultural arts of Mexican Americans and other Latino cultures—is run by the city of Austin. Two free exhibitions feature art by local, regional, and national Latino artists, and the MACC offers arts classes and camps for both adults and children. The building,near the Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail, also hosts regular events and concerts, including five annual festivals like the Día de Los Muertos celebration."

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View Postcard for Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center

Sam Farahzad

Google
Unfortunately we were only walking through the Cultural Center and didn’t get a chance to look inside, but the exterior was awesome. Lots of open space with modern architecture. We saw pieces from local artists and areas to sit and take it all in. Looking forward to visiting the Cultural Center when the pandemic is over. Really enjoyed seeing all of the Mexican set pieces around the exterior of the building.

Delia Perez Meyer

Google
Beautiful and culturally important Mexican American Cultural Arts Center for the community to enjoy ... encompasses visual arts, music, dance, theater, classes for children, celebrations, and film! Pictures posted are with Connie Arismende, artist who created sculptures of the Perez & Ramos Families honoring the legacy of musical families along the Tejano Trail of Music 🎶 Legends ... Please visit & enjoy!! Delia Perez Meyer

Tori Garcia

Google
Really cute, cultural center. I was visiting Austin while it was raining unfortunately, so we were having trouble finding things to do. We came to this place on a whim, and it was really interesting! There were a couple really cool art exhibits on the first and second floors. We ran into a group of students putting together a really awesome mural piece. We stood and watched as they worked together, and it was so sweet how encouraging and supportive the teachers were with the students. My only complaint would be that I wish there were more exhibits, because there were only a few, and they were pretty small. But.. this place is free. But also because of that it has that "government/city-funded" vibe compared to a private museum/art center if that makes sense. Still a really neat place to visit, though.

Marissa Resendez

Google
We love the MACC! We have been going for years to multiple events. The Dia de Los Muertos event is a must. Great music and local vendors.

dianne pereira

Google
Celebrate Dia de los muertos at the "MAC" museum! Great family fun, cultural experiences, hands on craft stations, lively music and more!

Sam Keske

Google
Great, culturally aware location. Visited for a gala - good spot for an evening function.

David Schmidt

Google
Used to be nice. So much trash between here an the trail now. Looks very sketchy too don't come alone or at night...

adi s

Google
In all of the websites it says "OPEN" with opening hours. But (!) When we arived we discoverd that its closed until 2025!

M A.

Yelp
Everyone was very nice and helpful. The artwork was amazing. Plenty of parking and food spots for a family outing.
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Monica O.

Yelp
'OMG girl, run! I'm afraid he's going to injure you!' This was an explicit warning I received from fellow (and skilled) salsera Dej M. during one of MACC's Pura Salsa meetups. Some background information: The gracious Marion and Jason hold these dance socials the first Thursday night in the facility's auditorium. Counterintuitively, they get started early with a 6-7p beginner lesson and continue to blast the salsa jams until about 10p. Start early, end early, for the sake of the 8am weekday workforce. Thank you a thousand times for this, Marion. There are usually some very skilled partners at these dances, and one lead was able to safely lift my salsera friend and I (off the ground, though not simultaneously) without breaking a sweat, despite our misgivings. He had adequate upper body strength for that feat, fortunately. These meetups are worthy of more dancers than the typical 12-15 couples who are lucky enough to spread out on the auditorium's HUGE wooden floor, so bring on more people, Party People. Other events hosted by MACC have been a Day of the Dead community celebration, complete with a paint-your-own-sugar-skull crafts area, live latin band, theater dance performance, wacky altars for loved ones gone, and of course a giant paper mâché skull. They currently host flamenco, yoga, power spanish (feel the power!) and martial arts classes as well. I'm a fan.
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Deji M.

Yelp
The lure: a salsa event beginning at 8pm, I think. I was on alert: any dancing event starting before 10pm is suspect (see One World Theater review http://www.yelp.com/biz/one-world-theatre-austin#hrid:ys3ZJ9IqTx4o0mFRnakCGw). As I approached the building, I heard very chill music playing outside. Think Maxwell, Joss Stone, etc. I like them plenty but... |||||||Abort. Abort.||||||| I almost texted Monica O to say I'd been kidnapped by billy goats, but proceeded instead. And then I heard it. Salsa music - it was inside. Oh happy day. On the walk to the dance room, I passed by Dia De Los Muertos stands created to honor loved ones who've passed. Very cool. I want one too, and I'll haunt my family until they build one with brownies for me. It's a lovely facility, and the dance room was large with an awesome floor. Now it doesn't matter how well you dance as a girl; if he can't lead it, you wont be doing it. But there were a few fantastic experienced male partners, and we got right to working up a sweat. There's no shame in it. Everyone was wonderful, delightful, each in his own right an elegant dancer... Except for him. Do not dance with him. You will know him when you see him, purposely misleading his partners, playing some kind of coy dance mating game. He will be doing some unconventional dance moves, like he is in lust but has to pee real bad, and he's angry. His shirt is unbuttoned beyond the Do Not Unbutton This One, You'll Look Creepy button. He'll commend you if you survive the dance/test, but that's not how it should be. I may have hit him with my car on my way out.

Gloria C.

Yelp
The staff is very friendly and courteous especially considering what they have to work with. Getting to this place without a car is a nightmare. Capital Metro refuses to move the bus stop closer to this City facility. And the City itself is not pushing hard enough for access to the facility either. The architecture itself screams brutalist/Googie. I thought of Disney's tomorrow world......or the Jetsons. And it does not necessarily fit in with the historic neighborhood re: style. Oh I am sure in a couple of months enough hipster condos will be built so it will look just fine. But wasn't the point of this place to be something likeable and useable?? Accessibility.....rooms are on the second floor. Elevators are available to access the second floor. But you have to find it. The stairwell is not readily lit in the dark. Might not be the best facility to hold a meeting at.
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Lisa B.

Yelp
Been to a couple of things here lately. (1) Trio Los Vigilantes (2) Austin Symphony Orchestra For the first, it was absolutely perfect. The acoustics were perfect and the large lobby made a great place for the set up bar. For the second, the event was planned for outdoors, where there would have been plenty of seating, but it started raining and the venue kindly allowed everyone to be indoors. In this case, the auditorium was too small, being as the orchestra took half the room, but chairs were brought out for people in the lobby with the doors open and bf and I happily leaned against the wall. I'm not sure the range of events they allow in their fair halls, but it seems a nice, accomodating venue. I also bartended here once and happen to know there is a kitchen in the back of the auditorium for caterers to use. The outdoor area is magnificent, by the way. Check it out sometime where you're running the Riverside/Red River side of Town Lake! Or maybe when you're just leaving Clive or G'Raj Mahal.
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Cynthia C.

Yelp
Very cool architecture from the outside & the building is right on town lake-- you can see rainey street from here. Passed by here on a walk-- not sure what there is to do if there's not an event going on-- I think people use the rooms/theater to practice or have classes or put on a gallery showcase. Glad this is an option for people to consider :)
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Texas G.

Yelp
We have rented the MACC to host private parties on several occasions. The architecture is impressive, yet reserved. I've always received compliments for my selection from our guests. They love the view over the lake. I would give the Mexican American Cultural Center five stars except for one drawback that is entirely outside of its own control. It is on Rainey street, which has become a magnet for drunks and criminals. If it were at all possible, I'd prefer my guests to arrive via boat instead of by car to avoid the unsightly lowlifes on the street outside of the MACC. Unfortunately, Lady Bird Lake prohibits motorized watercraft and the FAA won't let me land helicopters on the ground at the MACC outside of an emergency. We will probably rent it again for my son's upcoming graduation celebration, though.
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Mandee K.

Yelp
I love bringing my dog for walks through here. It's well maintained and clean. It's also very pretty! Glad it's where it is :)

Shelby S.

Yelp
By all means do not walk your dog here and GOD FORBID do not throw the ball for your dog in their huge empty field off leash. You will be harassed by the people who work here with their phone video recording you as they threaten to call the police. I didn't realize my 8 pound dog was hurting anyone while chasing his tennis ball at 10am in a completely empty field. There's a lot of ways to go about asking someone to put their dog back on a leash and walking up to me with the phone in my face is not one of them.
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Dianira A.

Yelp
I love this place. I moved to San Antonio from Austin about 7 years ago and miss it. I watched a play put on by Teatro Vivo and the combination of their art and the location was a shot of energy into my soul. There is always something to do, something to see and great people to meet at the MACC.

Paulette D.

Yelp
I like the MACC and the events I've been to there. I do want to say: I feel the programming could be more dynamic, and though it's a lovely space I think it's underutilized. The sorjuana event 4-18-15 for example: I loved the music--Lourdes Perez et al--but regarding the rebozo exhibit--very uh, minimalist. Only a few rebozos, on loan from local ladies, very little interesting captioning or history. And aren't shawls sort of everywhere in the world where women have shoulders? Anyway id like to see more robust programming from whoever does it.
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Azul P.

Yelp
This is such a gem for Austin. The architecture is beautiful and it's offerings to the public are great. Thanks to the wonderful staff for keeping it great.