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Battle between Latino arts groups ends in settlement, with 1 agreeing to vacate shared building
A Latino Museum exhibit in the lobby of the L.A. Theater Center.
(
Adolfo Guzman-Lopez
)
A long-running feud between two high-profile Latino art groups renting the same building owned by the city of Los Angeles appears to be over.
The Latino Theater Company and the Latino Museum of History, Art and Culture sued each other nearly three years ago over use of the three-story theater complex they occupy on Spring Street in downtown L.A.
The feud over the L.A. Theater Center reached a head in a January L.A. City Council meeting after the city moved to evict both groups for failing to live up to the terms of the lease.
After that, Latino Museum director Ana Pescador says that, in a signed document, her organization has agreed to vacate the building. The Latino Museum and the Latino Theater Company will drop their lawsuits, and neither will seek money from the other. She adds that the Latino Museum is looking for a new space.
Latino Theater Company officials weren’t available for comment. They hope to continue producing plays in the downtown building.
Museum staff said during the initial dispute that theater company officials hampered exhibits and programs when they didn’t allow art from the museum’s collections to be displayed in the building lobby. But theater company officials contend that they did nothing wrong.
The city of L.A. must approve the settlement before it can take effect.
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