Our Story
Instituto Arte Teatral Internacional (IATI) was founded in 1968 by Venezuelan director Abdón Villamizar and a dedicated group of Latinx writers and actors. For two decades, IATI operated a vibrant basement theater at 9 East 6th Street, where it showcased hundreds of performances for the local Latinx community. The organization has always aimed to create a welcoming home for immigrant and visiting artists from Latin America.
After the sale of its original building in 1988, IATI transformed an abandoned monastery on Second Avenue into a theater space named CUANDO, where it presented new works, children’s shows, festivals, and community workshops. A hallmark of IATI's community engagement is the holiday show celebrating Three Kings Day, which collects toys for low-income students.
Despite facing challenges, including the condemnation of CUANDO in 1990, IATI adapted by renting various venues and continued to thrive. In 1998, under the leadership of Vivian Deangelo, IATI converted a storage space into a rehearsal studio, working tirelessly even without electricity. In 2005, with the support of Councilmember Margarita Lopez, IATI purchased a building at 64 E 4th Street, completing major renovations in 2013 and initiating further improvements in 2022.