idden Gem for Modern Language Educators
Alondra Pacheco, AATSP 9-12 Representative
As an educator, I am always looking for innovative ways to bring culture alive for my students. Being able to visit the Community Arts Center/ Centro de Artes Comunitarias with my students has become the highlight of our class. Last fall, my AP and Post-AP classes visited the center to view an exhibit on Mayan textiles. At the exhibit, students could explore the styles, colors, and significance of symbols used in Mayan woven designs. In addition to learning about textiles my students participated in a kite-making workshop with supplies provided by the CAC.
This year you must mark your calendar for their annual Ceremonia del Día de Muertos, an event in partnership with the Mexican Committee of Cleveland, where you can learn about Day of the Dead. For the past two years, CAC has offered workshops by the artist Héctor Castellanos Lara, where students can explore hands-on techniques to design their own tapetes for the Day of the Dead.
CAC is a great resource not only for Spanish teachers but for educators of other modern languages. The Center recently hosted a Winter Japanese Sweets workshop for people to learn how to make wagashi. This amazing free workshop led by Japanese artist Toshiko Steffes Suggie incorporated techniques for creating and designing this traditional Japanese candy, along with an engaging explanation of its cultural significance.
Aside from gearing several programs toward educators, CAC also offers a Family FUNday every Sunday from 1:00-4:00, when participants of all ages are invited to enjoy arts and crafts. This coming Sunday, March 2, 2025, Italian artist Claudio Orso will lead participants in a papermaking workshop using organic flowers.
Located at 2937 West 25th Street, Cleveland, Ohio the Community Arts Center offers free programming for students of all levels. You may contact the center to schedule a group visit here: https://www.clevelandart.org/cac/community-arts-center-group-visits.
Tours may be scheduled Monday through Friday from 9:30-4:00
For more information, check out: https://www.clevelandart.org/cac
The staff at CAC has made every one of our visits unique and I am thankful to have such a wonderful resource available to enrich my student’s experience with Hispanic culture. My Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica chapter always looks forward to going to their events and I encourage everyone to check out CAC.
The Cardinal 