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CREARTE LATINO OUR STORY
CreArte Latino was founded in 2012 as a creative hub for the Latino/Hispanic community in Sarasota and Manatee counties. In 2016, CreArte Latino became a 501(c)3 non-profit and increased its performance schedule to four full-length plays annually, one children’s theater production, and its first Spanglish improv comedy show. By 2017, CreArte Latino elected Carolina Franco as its new President and Artistic Director and soon after, the organization broadened its programming to encompass youth and adult education options and changed its name to CreArte Latino Cultural Center.
In 2022, Carolina Franco still guides CreArte with the invaluable help of Executive Director Carol Hartz, and Sebastian Pelaez, Vice President of the Board of Directors, both of whom have been instrumental in CreArte’s growth and progress. The theater season now includes scripted plays in Spanish, as well as improv acting and collaborations with Latino/Hispanic artists from Sarasota and throughout Latin America. CreArte continues to teach performing arts for children in Spanish and offers online English and Spanish classes for adults. One of its most popular programs is the ongoing, online Amigos Book Club, 100 percent in Spanish. Today, CreArte Latino Cultural Center is expanding, excited about the future and seeking volunteers.
OUR STORY
CreArte Latino was founded in 2012 as a creative hub for the Latino/Hispanic community in Sarasota and Manatee counties. In 2016, CreArte Latino became a 501(c)3 non-profit and increased its performance schedule to four full-length plays annually, one children’s theater production, and its first Spanglish improv comedy show. By 2017, CreArte Latino elected Carolina Franco as its new President and Artistic Director and soon after, the organization broadened its programming to encompass youth and adult education options and changed its name to CreArte Latino Cultural Center.
In 2022, Carolina Franco still guides CreArte with the invaluable help of Executive Director Carol Hartz, and Sebastian Pelaez, Vice President of the Board of Directors, both of whom have been instrumental in CreArte’s growth and progress. The theater season now includes scripted plays in Spanish, as well as improv acting and collaborations with Latino/Hispanic artists from Sarasota and throughout Latin America. CreArte continues to teach performing arts for children in Spanish and offers online English and Spanish classes for adults. One of its most popular programs is the ongoing, online Amigos Book Club, 100 percent in Spanish. Today, CreArte Latino Cultural Center is expanding, excited about the future and seeking volunteers.
2012 | CreArte Latino es fundado por Alessandro Rossal como una alternativa de entretenimiento para la comunidad latina. En este año se presentó la primer obra teatral en un Auditorio en Sarasota.
2013 | CreArte Latino presentó otra obra para niños.
2016 | El equipo creció y se presentaron 4 obras este año, incluyendo la clausura del primer taller de actuación para niños. Se presenta también el primer show de Improvisación.
2017 | CreArte Latino renta por primera vez su sede con capacidad de 70 asientos para el público. Se presentan 7 producciones este año, incluyendo 3 clausuras del taller de actuación para niños, un show de Improvisación en Spanglish y un show de Micro-Teatro en la que las obras son escritas por los integrantes del grupo artístico.
2018 | CreArte Latino nombra a Carolina Verbert-Franco como la Directora Artística. Por primera vez invitados locales y de otras ciudades también presentan sus obras en esta sede. Los Talleres de Actuación para niños continúan y el equipo sigue creciendo teniendo más de 15 integrantes.
NUESTRA JUNTA DIRECTIVA
OUR MISSION
We are passionate about nurturing various forms of art while working with people of all ages to create a cultural exchange between Latinos/Hispanics and the community at large.

Presidente | Carolina Verbert-Franco
Vice-Presidente | William Luera
Secretaria | Connie Cuadrado
Board Member | Amalia Flores
Board Member | Sebastian Pelaez
NUESTRA MISIÓN
Producir teatro en español para mantener y promover las raíces hispanas en Sarasota y Manatee, en niños y adultos, y crear un medio de intercambio cultural entre latinos y toda la comunidad.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Carolina Franco
President/Artistic director
Carol Hartz
Executive Director

Sebastian Pelaez Board Vicepresident

Will Luera
Board director
