In honor of these events, Joyce grantee The National Museum of Mexican Art will play a prominent role in what Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley has declared 'The Year of Mexico in Chicago.'

The National Museum of Mexican Art, located in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, is the largest Latino arts organization in the nation and the only Latino museum accredited by the American Association of Museums. Throughout its history, the museum has created numerous national and international touring exhibitions and built a permanent collection of more than 6,000 works, making it one of the largest collections of Mexican art in the country. Each year, more than 160,000 visitors participate in visual arts exhibitions, performance celebrations, and education programs all designed to preserve the knowledge and appreciation of Mexican culture.

Joyce has supported many of the museum’s exhibitions and activities. A 2008 Joyce grant helped to expand the touring schedule for The African Presence in Mexico, an exhibition that continues to travel to museums across the country and overseas. The exhibition traced African contributions to Mexican culture from the first slaves that arrived on its shores in the 16th century to the present day. Joyce also provided support for another touring exhibition Women Artists of Modern Mexico: Frida’s Contemporaries, the largest exhibition of Mexican modern women artists ever presented in the United States.

A more recent Joyce grant supports the 2010 National Sor Juana Festival, the oldest and largest Latino performing arts festival in the country. The festival, named after prominent colonial-era Mexican writer Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, celebrates the accomplishments of Mexican female artists and will feature bilingual programs in dance, film, music, and theater. The grant will also help to develop the Mexican Chicago Traveling Exhibition, a panel exhibit depicting the 100 years of Mexican immigration to Chicago. For the next five years, the panel will travel to libraries, schools, museums, and community centers throughout the Midwest.

“We are thrilled to continue these programs that spread knowledge of Mexican culture throughout Chicago,” says Carlos Tortolero, president of The National Museum of Mexican Art. “While we remain committed to our local roots, our institution continues to grow beyond the borders of Pilsen as our programs reach other cities throughout the country.”

For more information on the Joyce Foundation’s Culture program, please visit here.