Instituto of Cultura Hispanica

Today, almost 40 years after its founding, the Instituto De Cultura Hispanica De Corpus Christi is a strong and vibrant community organization, committed to promoting awareness about the diverse Hispanic cultures in Corpus Christi through numerous events and programs, under the leadership of our Board of Directors. The Instituto has its origins in 1976, when Mr. Juan Jose Gussoni, Mr. Sergio Villarreal, Dr. Efren Suris, Dr. Jose E. Antoni, and Mr. Evaristo Tercilla met to discuss the possibility of creating an organization to represent, promote, and expand the Hispanic culture in Corpus Christi, Texas.These community leaders held a meeting on October 12, 1976, hosted by Dr. Marc Eugenio at his home, to share their idea with other Hispanic members in the Corpus Christi community. Those community members who attended the meeting were excited and inspired to create a Hispanic cultural organization in Corpus Christi and joined as founding members. The founding members then elected Mr. Evaristo Tercilla as the first president of the organization, and Dr. Marc Eugenio as the first president of the board. For almost 40 years, the Instituto de Cultura Hispanica de Corpus Christi has enhanced our community by promoting an understanding of the different aspects of life within different Hispanic cultures and by celebrating the positive contributions the various Hispanic cultures bring to the community. By collaborating with local educational institutions and other community organizations, the Instituto sponsors lectures by well-known personalities, recitals by famed artists, theatrical performances, art shows, folklore displays and social festivities.