First-Ever Chicano Arts Festival Celebrates Culture, Media, Film, and Politics in Tucson

Tucson, Arizona — January 17–18

Tucson made history with the launch of the first-ever Chicano Arts Festival, a two-day cultural gathering that brought together artists, media professionals, filmmakers, political leaders, and nationally recognized entertainers. Held at the Viscount Hotel, the free, public event created an inclusive space centered on Chicano identity, storytelling, and community empowerment.

Art Vendors and Cultural Expression

Throughout the weekend, attendees explored a vibrant selection of art vendors, showcasing original Chicano artwork, handcrafted goods, and culturally inspired creations. The vendor marketplace emphasized entrepreneurship and creativity while supporting local and regional artists.

Panels Highlighting Chicano Representation

A defining feature of the festival was its series of panels examining Chicano influence across media, film, and politics—offering attendees direct insight from accomplished voices.

Chicanos in Media

The Chicanos in Media panel featured Angee Smallz, Erica Cantua, and Steve Rivera, each bringing a distinct perspective on storytelling, platform-building, and influence.

Angee Smallz is a Los Angeles–based YouTuber and media entrepreneur who founded Latin Affiliated Magazine in Tucson, Arizona, in 2006. She has since relaunched the brand as Latin Affiliated, a YouTube channel focused on interviewing Latino entertainers and cultural figures. Her interviews include rapper B-Real, Lefty GunPlay, and comedian Jeff Garcia, the voice of Sheen from Jimmy Neutron, whom Smallz managed for a year prior to his passing earlier this year. Her career reflects nearly two decades of dedication to elevating Latino voices in media and entertainment.

Erica Cantua, owner of ErixaArt.com, shared her journey building a successful online art business. Through innovative and strategic marketing campaigns, Cantua leveraged social media—particularly TikTok—to grow her audience to over 400,000 followers, demonstrating how Chicano artists can scale their work globally through digital platforms.

Steve Rivera is one of Arizona’s most respected sports journalists, having covered Arizona men’s basketball for more than 25 years. Most recently with FoxSportsArizona.com, Rivera spent two decades covering the University of Arizona for the Tucson Citizen. In 2000, legendary basketball analyst Dick Vitale named Rivera one of the top 16 college basketball writers in America. Rivera has covered 18 Final Fours, three NBA Finals, and two Olympic Games, co-hosts Eye on the Ball on Fox Sports 1450, and is the author of Lessons from Lute.

Adelita Grijalva Panel

A featured panel with Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva, the first Latina Congresswoman, was hosted by Angee Smallz. The discussion focused on leadership, advocacy, and civic engagement, connecting local community concerns with national policy and emphasizing the importance of representation.

During the festival, Congresswoman Grijalva presented Jon Proudstar with the Chicano Art Achievement Award, recognizing his groundbreaking contributions to film, storytelling, and Indigenous representation in media.

Viewers can watch Angee Smallz’s exclusive interview with Congresswoman Grijalva on the latest episode of Latin Affiliated’s YouTube channel.

Chicanos in Film

The Chicanos in Film panel explored storytelling, access, and representation within the entertainment industry and featured Cesar Garcia, Jon Proudstar, and Rubén Reyes.

Cesar Garcia is a Mexican actor best known for his roles in Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, and Fast & Furious 4. He shared insight into navigating Hollywood as a Chicano actor and the importance of authentic representation.

Rubén Reyes, born in Mexico, emigrated to the United States at the age of three and worked alongside his family in the agricultural fields of Arizona and Salinas, California. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Media Arts from the University of Arizona and an Associate’s Degree in Radio Broadcasting from Arizona Western College. Reyes has been a member of NALIP (National Association of Latino Independent Producers) and served as a board member of the Arizona International Film Festival. His career includes work as a producer, director, and news manager for Telemundo Arizona, and producing independent films such as Pancho Goes To College, which won Best Film at the East LA Chicano Film Festival and was featured at the Mexico City Chicano Film Festival. He currently serves as Senior District Advisor for Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva.

Guest of Honor: Jon Proudstar

A Tucson native, Jon Proudstar is an American film actor, writer, and director. He is widely recognized for his standout performance as Leon in the award-winning Hulu FX series Reservation Dogs. Proudstar is also the creator of the groundbreaking comic book Tribal Force, recognized as the first all–Native American superhero comic book in U.S. history. In 2009, Tribal Force was inducted into the Smithsonian Institution’s Natives in Pop Culture collection, marking a historic milestone in representation.

Chicanos in Politics

The Chicanos in Politics panel featured Patrick Robles, Jordan Toyos, and Benny Gomez, focusing on civic participation, leadership, and political organizing.

Patrick Robles, the District Director for Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva, spoke on the importance of grassroots advocacy, public service, and empowering community voices within the political process.

Celebrity Guests

The festival also welcomed notable guests from film and television, including:

• Ryan Ochoa, actor from the hit Nickelodeon series iCarly

• Raymond Ochoa, voice actor from Disney and Pixar’s The Good Dinosaur

• Steve Villegas, actor

• Geno Segers, actor and voice artist best known for his role as Chayton Littlestone on Cinemax’s Banshee and as Mason Makoola on Disney XD’s Pair of Kings

  
  

A New Platform for Community and Culture

The Chicano Arts Festival established itself as more than an arts showcase—it became a platform for visibility, education, and cultural pride. By blending creative expression with meaningful dialogue and ensuring accessibility through free admission, the festival laid the groundwork for future community-driven cultural events in Tucson.

The first-ever Chicano Arts Festival took place January 17–18 at the Viscount Hotel in Tucson, Arizona, offering a free, public celebration of Chicano culture, creativity, and leadership. The two-day event brought together local artists, media creators, filmmakers, political leaders, and nationally recognized entertainers for a weekend rooted in representation, dialogue, and community empowerment.

GET INVOLVED

To get involved on the next one, direct message the show's organizer on instagram and make sure to follow them as well! http://instagram.com/chicanoartsfestival