GALA and Washington Performing Arts Society (WPAS) created ArteAméricA in 1992 as an initiative to present the breadth and diversity of Latino performing arts forms to a broad audience in the Washington metropolitan area, thus enhancing public understanding of and appreciation for these artistic expressions and their impact on our hybrid American culture. The series has showcased traditional and contemporary work and artists from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Peru, Spain, and the United States in forms as varied as tango, flamenco, danzón, mariachi, Cubop, nueva canción, bomba, rumba, and plena, as well as jazz, modern dance, and performance art. ArteAméricA also has provided opportunities for internationally and nationally recognized artists to interact with students and the local community through classes, lecture demonstrations, and visits to schools.

As the Latino population in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area has continued its rapid growth, ArteAméricA remains the only ongoing presenting arts series dedicated exclusively to promoting Latino artists and art forms. Moreover, it capitalizes on each partner’s strengths to connect Latino artists with a diverse community, insuring these expressions are recognized as an essential part of DC’s cultural life. Through ArteAméricA, GALA and WPAS support advance the careers of established Latino artists, as well as the development of emerging artists, nourishing the field through dynamic cultural exchanges that ultimately enrich GALA’s company and the entire artistic community of the region.