CARLOS TORTOLERO
Say what? You’ve got to be kidding? There’s no way that can work!
These are the doubts with which the museum field/arts world greeted me when in 1982 I decided to create a Mexican museum in Chicago. I was a teacher/counselor/administrator with the Chicago public school system, and I asked five other educators to join the founding board. I was told by the museum field/arts world that my dream to create a museum in a working-class neighborhood, an art museum in a working-class neighborhood, and to make it a free museum, was never going to work. And they were Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Opened in 1987 as the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum, then renamed the National Museum of Mexican Art (NMMA) in 2006, the museum is the only Latino museum accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM).
From the outset, I understood that there are two hurdles that institutions of color must constantly be confronting when viewed by the mainstream world. The first is that our art is not good. This is such a ridiculous perception, but I can’t say how many times I’ve been asked, even by reputable museum and arts people, “How can you do a museum only on the Mexican culture?” My response has always been to please never put the word “only” in front of the Mexican culture. The second hurdle that we always have to be overcoming is the mindset that institutions of color can’t “manage things.” It’s too sophisticated for us. After our first year, when our budget was barely more than $1,000, I made sure that we had an audit done. People told me, “Are you crazy? Why do an audit on such a small amount of money?” But I felt it was necessary, right from the beginning, to demonstrate that we were as managerially savvy as anyone. These two mainstream concerns range from ignorance to racism, but they clearly illustrate how far as a nation we still have to come when it comes to issues of diversity.
I wanted the museum to be an institution that organized super-important exhibits and events. We have established a great reputation in this area. But at the same time, I wanted our museum to be a catalyst for changing what a museum is all about. Museum and philanthropic professionals hate it when I publicly comment that most mainstream museums don’t really believe in diversity, or at best don’t “get it.” But guess what, folks? Most mainstream museums don’t serve a wide range of people, and honestly it isn’t a priority for them. Being a museum that serves everyone isn’t just a slogan to us; it’s part of our DNA.
There has been an immense amount of attention in the media on the changing demographics that our country is experiencing. Museums need to change. Too many museums overwhelmingly serve primarily the rich, educated, white population of the country. It is extremely hypocritical for museum and arts advocates to argue, when they are trying to secure funding, that the arts are essential to the human experience, then turn around and exclude so many people from participating. It is extremely ironic that at a time when there is so much conversation about diversity, the price of museum admission has reached a point that makes it difficult for many families to attend.
Half of the attendance at our museum has been non-Mexican since day one. How do we attract a wide array of people? It’s simple: we believe in diversity and equality. To the NMMA, believing in diversity is not something we say to please funders; it is something fundamental. We have worked to transform the concept of a museum from an ivory tower complex with collections to a place that is involved with its community, and involved in local and national issues. Our African Presence in Mexico exhibition probed the historical presence and contributions of Africans in Mexico more thoroughly than any other exhibition in history. Rastros y Crónicas: Women of Juarez focused on the hundreds of women who have been exploited, raped, and murdered in Ciudad Juárez in Mexico, while the authorities have done nothing. Declaration of Immigration explored the insane and racist attitudes that exist toward undocumented workers.
People have accused our museum of having an agenda, with the implication that museums shouldn’t have agendas. This is a ridiculous statement. All museums have agendas! The difference with our museum is that we are honest and up-front about our agenda. When mainstream art museums reserve their best spaces for European art, aren’t they saying that European art is the best? Isn’t that an agenda? Give me a break!
The National Museum of Mexican Art also works diligently to present events and activities that most museums would never dream of organizing. The museum sponsors an annual Día del Niño Family Festival that is attended by several thousand individuals and features free screenings for diabetes, high blood pressure, and HIV, as well as dental examinations. The museum has been involved in the issue of obesity and better eating habits. During our annual Day of the Dead exhibition, NMMA organizes a blood drive. What better way to honor those who have died than to help give the gift of life to those who need it? The museum has organized many activities and events for the LGBTQ community, including a Queer Prom that attracts diverse high school students from throughout the Chicagoland area. The Mexican community is still very conservative when it comes to this issue, but the museum understands and believes in the importance of equity for everyone. Consequently, we believe that leadership is not just doing what your community wants, but leading your community in a necessary direction.
Women’s issues have always been extremely important to the NMMA. The museum presents a performing arts festival focusing on the artistic contributions of Mexican women from both sides of the border. It has hosted workshops dealing with domestic violence toward women, access to health care for women, and workplace discriminatory practices toward women. We have held workshops for women on learning to do breast self-examinations.
Education has always been at the core of our museum’s mission. We are especially proud that when our institution underwent its most recent museum accreditation, our outside evaluators commented, “The Education Department is as prestigious within the museum structure as is the curatorial department. Everything that the museum undertakes demonstrates that education is part of the mission.”1 One third of our staff and one quarter of our budget is devoted to educational and after-school programs. I can’t think of any other art museum that comes anywhere close to these figures. NMMA has hosted and organized events on such topics as improving academic performance and dropout prevention. We believe in arts education not because it’s a fad and or because foundations want to fund it. We believe that all museums should be an integral part of educating everyone, but especially our youth. NMMA has numerous school-based programs where museum educators and artists are actively involved in educating children.
The museum is typically described by many people, Mexican and non-Mexican, as being the “heart of the Mexican community” and the “jewel of the Mexican community.” Consequently, many important events involving the Mexican community are held at the museum. From hosting presidents of Mexico to a wide range of events focusing on initiatives in the Mexican community, our institution serves as the “cultural home” of our community.
A museum can have quality exhibitions and excellent collections and still be connected to its community. The National Museum of Mexican Art is not the museum your mom and dad attended . . . and we are very proud of that!
1. Selma Holo and Mari-Tere Álvarez, “Accreditation Visit National Museum of Mexican Art Final Report,” American Alliance of Museums, 2009, page 4.