-Editorial
Local artist Jesús Corral has become a driving force in expanding arts education and cultural programming for residents of El Centro. After teaching oil painting classes for senior citizens at the El Centro Community Center throughout 2024, Corral was officially contracted by the city in 2025 to continue his classes and help launch a new cultural initiative at one of the city’s historic landmarks.
The City of El Centro inaugurated the House of Cultural Arts inside the Old Post Office Pavilion on 230 S. Fifth Street, a 1930s-era building known for its marble features and distinctive architecture.
The Old Post Office in El Centro once served as the city’s main mail hub but has since evolved into a vibrant cultural landmark. Revitalized in the 1970s through the efforts of the City of El Centro and the Imperial Arts Council, the historic building is now a center for artistic expression, offering local creators a platform to exhibit, teach, and share their work. For artists like Jesús Corral, it provides not only a venue to showcase talent but also a space where history and creativity merge to inspire the community.
Corral played a central role in the opening, curating an exhibition of nearly 90 oil paintings created by senior citizens who had participated in his classes the previous year. The exhibit, held in June, marked the building’s first major cultural event under its new designation.
In July, Corral introduced a summer program for children and teens, offering four distinct classes designed to nurture creativity at different age levels. The youngest group, ages 5 to 7, participated in “Tiny Picasso,” a course that introduced basic art and drawing techniques. Children ages 7 to 9 joined “Art Explorers,” where they practiced more advanced skills, while those ages 8 to 11 were introduced to oil painting. For older students, ages 12 to 14, Corral led a muralism class in which participants collaborated on a large mural that was later unveiled after the program.
The summer session closed with a student art exhibition at the Old Post Office, featuring paintings and sculptures produced during the workshops. The event drew community members who came to see the creative achievements of young local artists.
Corral has developed an after-school program that will begin on September 2. The month-long session will include comic drawing, mosaic art using glass and mirrors, and oil painting classes tailored for youth ages 14 to 17, as well as offerings for adults. Classes are scheduled from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Casa de la Cultura.
Through his work, Corral has established a steady presence in El Centro’s cultural life, bridging generations of residents through art and helping transform a historic building into a hub for creativity.
