National Museum of Mexican Art

Brief Overview
Located in the heart of Chicago's Mexican community in the Pilsen neighborhood, is the only Latino Museum accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Since its opening in 1987, the National Museum of Mexican Art has represented the Mexican community "from its own point of view and in its own voice," or sin fronteras (without borders). Today, it houses more than 7,000 objects in its permanent collection. These include: Pre-Cuauhtémoc, Ephemera, Textiles, Folk Art, Prints and Drawings, Photography, & Paintings and Sculpture.

History
In 1982, Carlos Tortolero, a Chicago Public Schools High School teacher, founded the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum. On March 27, 1987, it opened its doors to the public. In 2001, due to a growth in support and its audience, the museum expanded to a 48,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art facility in the heart of Pilsen. In 2006, the name was changed to the National Museum of Mexican Art. To this day, it is still committed to accessibility, education, and social justice and provides a positive influence for the local Mexican community.

Mission Statement
The National Museum of Mexican Art has stayed true to its founding mission:

To showcase the beauty and richness of Mexican culture by sponsoring events and presenting exhibitions that exemplify the majestic variety of visual and performing arts in the Mexican culture; to develop, conserve and preserve a significant permanent collection of Mexican art; to encourage the professional development of Mexican artists; and, to offer arts-education programs.

Education Programs

 * Children and Family Programs
 * Bilingual Summer Camp
 * Saturday and After-school Art Classes
 * Family Sundays
 * Adult Art Classes and Workshops
 * Teacher Professional Development
 * One-day Teacher Workshops
 * Classroom Resources
 * Educator Evenings
 * Lecture Presentations
 * School Programs
 * Teen Programs
 * Yollocalli Arts Reach
 * Group Visits

Organization
The NMMA has 6 departments for volunteers and interns to work in. These include: Exhibitions on Display Now:
 * Permanent Collection
 * Radio Arte
 * Visual Arts Department
 * Yollocalli Arts Reach
 * Education Department
 * Administration
 * Nuestras Historias
 * Deportable Aliens: New Work by Rodrigo Lara Zendejas
 * De vuelta: Works by Chicago Imagist Errol Ortiz
 * La Muerte Niña: Day of the Dead

Contact Information

 * Address: 1852 W. 19th St. Chicago, IL 60608
 * Phone: (312)738-1503
 * Hours: Tuesday through Sunday 10am-5pm
 * Closed Mondays and on major holidays
 * Free Admission everyday
 * Like them on Facebook or Follow them on Twitter
 * Email: info@nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org

For More Information
http://www.nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Museum_of_Mexican_Art