The Arizona Latin@ Arts & Cultural Center opened today just in time for First Friday.

The 5,400-square-foot Downtown space at 147 E. Adams Street is chock-full of beautiful and provocative artwork by noted Arizona artists like Zarco Guererro, Martin Moreno, Juliet de la Rosa, Jim Covarrubias, Marco Albarran, Jose Benevides, Dora Hernandez and many others, but the cultural center is much more than a gallery.

It’s a representation and celebration of the tremendous impact Latinos and those of Hispanic decent–who make up 40 percent of the Phoenix population–have made in the Valley.

The Latin@ Arts & Cultural Center offers a little bit of something for everyone, including dance and cooking classes, and live artist shows like the one that will take place tonight and every First Friday. Tonight’s grand opening event runs from 5-9 p.m. and features a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Mayor Phil Gordon, refreshments, and a blend of traditional and contempoary Latino artwork.

“Opening doors for our Latino arts and culture reflects one of our major goals to enhance the lives of all citizens in Phoenix by providing education on Latino arts, culture and traditions,” said ErLinda Torres, president of the Advocates for Latin@ Arts & Culture Consortium [ALAC], which helped build support for the arts center. “As Latinos we are proud to celebrate all the lasting contributions that Latinos have made to the arts, our economy, and our community.”

The ALAC hopes the cultural center’s success will open doors for a larger $10 million facility similar to Latino art museums in Albuquerque, San Antonio and Long Beach, Calif.

For more information call 602-254-9817 or alacaz.org. After tonight’s grand opening, the center will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday.