The Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum of Chicago

Written by Julie Greiner

As the largest Mexican or Latino arts institution in the nation is the first and only Mexican or Latino museum to be accredited by the American Association of Museums. Showcasing and sharing the Mexican culture has been the Museum's primary focus and it is one of Chicago's core cultural institutions. The Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum is located at 1852 W. 19th Street, Chicago, IL 60608 - in the heart of the Pilsen/Little Village community, the largest Mexican community in the Midwest. The Museum's primary focus is showcasing and sharing the Mexican culture and it has also become a center for discussing local, national and international issues that affect the Mexican/Latino community. The Museum opened its doors in 1987 with an initial budget of some $900. Today, 2002, the Museum has a full-time staff of some thirty-seven employees and a budget of $36.6 million. The Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum has an audience of over 100,000 a year from the immediate community, throughout the Chicagoland area and from across the nation. In 1995 the Museum received the National Service Award from the Institute of Museum Services at a White House ceremony.

U.S. Mexican Veterans National Memorial

The Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum of Chicago is planning to create a National Memorial Plaza for U.S.Mexican Veterans. The plaza will be the first of its kind nationally.

Photo by Kathleen Culbert-Aguilar

Percentage wise the Mexican soldier in the U.S. armed forces has been injured and died in much high percentages than their actual population in every war since World War II and have been awarded more Congressional Medals of Honor, than any other ethnic group in the U.S. Luis Jimenez, internationally recognized Mexican American sculptor, is the designer of the Plaza. The Plaza is expected to be completed in 2002.

Radio Arte in the Mexican Community

As the only bilingual youth-operated, urban, community station in the country, Radio Arte is committed to training young people ages 15 to 21 from the Chicago metropolitan area in the art of broadcasting. This is a two year training program which focuses on creative writing, journalism, voice training, FCC regulations and the use and challenges of recording sound for radio. Through this program - youths become aware of community issues, leadership skills and community commitment to their society.

Mexican Fine Arts Museum's Permanent Collection and Exhibits

Prints and drawings from Mexican masters such as: Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros, Jose Clemente Orozco, Rufino Tamayo... An unprecedented amount of new and never previously displayed artworks from the Permanent Collection are now permanently exhibited in the new galleries. The collection has grown to over 2,700 objects featuring the finest of Mexican creativity from both sides of the border. There are prints and drawings, popular art, photography, painting and sculpture, colonial and pre-Cuauhtemoc artifacts.

Black Oaxacan pottery, traditional Mexican toys, hand woven rugs and stunning silver jewelry are just a small sampling of the Mexican art and handcrafts available in the Gift Shop. There is also a wide variety of books on Mexican history, educational kits, catalogs, T-shirts and cooking utensils available in the shop. The Museum's Education Department helps interpret the Museum's permanent collection and special exhibitions with interpretive text, lectures, artist talks and demonstrations, exhibition-related family art programs and guided tours that are presented in English and/or Spanish and tailored to various age groups. For information on the tours and hours call: (312) 738-1503.