Our Mission

The Institute of Hispanic Culture of Houston  is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit organization, founded in 1965 by a group of professionals living in Houston interested in preserving, enhancing and promulgating the Hispanic culture and language inherited from Spain and Latin America. The IHCH mission is to disseminate and preserve the rich Hispanic culture, and to highlight the historical, linguistic, scientific, and artistic achievements of Hispanics or Latin-Americans, particularly Hispanics and Latin-Americans residing in Houston, Texas.

Our Vision

To be the premier and preferred Hispanic organization to effectively embrace and engage a broadly and diverse membership while preserving our Hispanic cultural heritage and bilingual skills

Our History

On July 4, 1946, the closing day of the XIX Congress of Pax Romana, in San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Madrid, Spain,with the presence of almost all the Latin American republics (missed Costa Rica, Honduras and the Dominican Republic), eighty two Congress people decided to create a new institution, according to the immediate demands of hispanoamericanismo, and founded an Ibero-American Cultural Institute, chaired by Pablo Antonio Cuadra. A few months later the project was assumed by the Spanish State and the Institute of Hispanic Culture (ICH) was created.

Parallel to the creation of ICH in Madrid, similar centers are generated in different provinces of Spain and Latin America. These centers carry legal personality, independent resources and full autonomy. Its aims coincide with those of Madrid while maintaining regional aspects. Among these centers the Catalan Institute of Hispanic Culture, known today as the Catalan Institute for Iberoamerican Cooperation is created.

From Catalonia, Spain were Dr. David Cardust, Dr. Carlos Vallbona, Dr. John Olive, and Carlos Rusca, who think in embracing in Houston the concept of the IHC created in Catalonia. These professionals oined Dr. Enrique Iglesias, originally from Madrid, and Pedro Sanchez, from province of Navarra, Spain and US citizen, and founded in 1965 the Institute of Hispanic Culture based in Houston. It was precisely Pedro Sanchez who wrote the By-laws of the new organization. After the election of Latino Presidents like Benjamin Suarez, Argentinian, the institute put into practice in Houston its extension to Hispano-America.