Claudia Chapa of the Austin Opera. Photo: Courtesy city of Austin
The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center this weekend will hand out its Awards of Excellence.
Why it matters: The awards, established in 2009, recognize people in Austin who have demonstrated significant leadership and made meaningful contributions in Latino cultural arts.
Claudia Chapa, a performer and curator of Hispanic and Latinx programming at the Austin Opera, where she leads efforts to expand access to opera.
Jesus "Chuy" Chacon, artistic director at Roy Lozano's Ballet Folklórico de Texas since 1994.
Walter Guzmán, founder and director of the Guzmán Ballet Folklórico, and the organizer of a Mexican festival in Indonesia.
Plus: Lifetime achievement winners include beloved long-time broadcaster Fred Cantú and performer and environmental activist Daniel Llanes.
Of note: Llanes' daughter, former Austin mayoral candidate Carmen Llanes Pulido, recently launched a fundraiser after her father was diagnosed with liver cancer.
Fred Cantú and Daniel Llanes in side by side photos. Photo: John Anderson/Getty Images; and courtesy city of Austin
📺 What's next: The event at the Long Center on Saturday is by invitation only, but the public can watch a livestream on Facebook.