Mission Cultural Center Abruptly Closes, Was Apparently Drowning in Red Ink

"Day of the Dead just won't be the same without the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, but the 47-year-old arts space gave up the ghost Monday, and is now desperately trying to get an advance to continue existing in some form. The colorful posters, Dia de Los Muertos activities, and pulsing drum music often seen around the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts at Mission and 24th streets was apparently concealing a deep, dark secret."

"The place was out of money, deep in financial crisis, and had laid off most of its staff in December. The center apparently ran out of its last remaining operating funds on Tuesday of last week. This week, the center closed up shop completely on Monday, according to the local newspaper El Tecolote. This may well be the end of the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts (MCCLA)."

"So now the center is begging for its survival by asking the SF Arts Commission for an early disbursement of grant money that is scheduled to be disbursed in March of this year. But El Tecolote obtained an email from MCCLA to the Arts Commission that sure makes one wonder about their financial acumen over the past couple years. MCCLA is burning $50k/mo ($12k/week) more than revenue and has no revenue, Jentzsch and a board member wrote in that email."

The Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts ceased operations after running out of funds and laying off most of its staff in December. The center exhausted its remaining operating funds and closed completely, violating its lease because it had no staff and was insolvent. Interim director Derek Jentzsch resigned after realizing he would not be paid. The center is requesting an early disbursement of a $300,000 grant scheduled for March from the San Francisco Arts Commission. MCCLA reported burning $50,000 per month more than revenue and claimed to have no revenue. The city owns the building, managed by the SF Arts Commission.

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