Mission
WACO (WHERE ART CAN OCCUR) THEATER CENTER IS A PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS ORGANIZATION THAT PRESENTS, COMMISSIONS AND DEVELOPS ARTISTIC WORKS DEDICATED TO STORIES OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA. CO-FOUNDED BY RICHARD LAWSON AND TINA KNOWLES, WACO PROVIDES ARTISTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE A PLATFORM TO VOICE AND SHOWCASE THEIR CREATIVITY TO CONNECT AND INSPIRE OTHERS. WACO'S ARTISTIC AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE DRIVEN BY FOUR VALUES. WE CREATE WORK THAT UNAPOLOGETICALLY: CENTERS BLACK ART AND CULTURE FROM A DIASPORIC LENS AND VOICE; INCUBATES AND LAUNCHES NEW CREATIVE IDEAS TO MEMORIALIZE THE PAST AND ENVISION THE FUTURE OF BLACK LIFE; IS COLLABORATIVE AND LEADS WITH AN UBUNTU MINDSET, "I AM, BECAUSE WE ARE- AND SERVES THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY INCLUDING THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND CIVIC PRIORITIES OF OUR NEIGHBORS AND BLACK LOS ANGELES. NOW IN OUR EIGHTH SEASON, WE HAVE CONTINUED TO ELEVATE AN EMPHASIS ON THE HISTORY OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA AND CULTURE IN OUR PROGRAMMING. WE FIRMLY BELIEVE IN THE POWER