NEW YORK, NY, January 26, 2000--- El Museo del Barrio's winter season continues its 30th anniversary celebration with two major exhibitions: Latin American Still Life: Reflections of Time and Place, a landmark exhibition featuring the works of Caribbean and Latin American masters, including Francisco Oller, Fernando Botero, Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and Rufino Tamayo; and Franco Mondini Ruiz's Mexique, a mixed media installation that recreates in minature the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlán, now Mexico City. The exhibitions will be on view from February 10th to May 21st, 2000.

Founded in 1969 by a group of Puerto Rican educators, artists and community activists as a neighborhood museum for residents of East Harlem's community, El Museo del Barrio has become the nation's leading Latino cultural institution by expanding its mission to represent the diversity of Caribbean and Latin American art and culture. El Museo has had a major impact on the cultural life of New York City and is now a major stop on Manhattan's Museum Mile.

"We are proud of El Museo del Barrio's Puerto Rican roots, and have also expanded our mission to embrace the increasingly diverse Latino communities now residing in New York City," said Susana Torruella Leval, Executive Director of El Museo. "Our 30th anniversary marks a significant milestone in our history. We look forward to exciting multi-cultural dialogues and opportunities to preserve and present the heritage of new constituents. We will also expand the scope of our permanent collection and exhibitions, and introduce new educational programs for the community, school groups and national and international visitors," she added.

An outstanding growth record of exhibitions, educational programs, and attendance --which has doubled in the last five years-- prepares El Museo del Barrio for the challenges of the new millennium and to achieve its short and long-range plans. They include the summer 2000 opening of the Heckscher Theater, a 1920's jewel with spectacular murals and capacity for 600 people, located in El Museo's city-owned building; the expansion of its gift shop "Manos," currently an important venue for promoting the work of local and national Latino artists; and the creation of "Las Americas Café," an informal gathering place serving Caribbean and Latin American coffees, refreshments and snacks.

This year, El Museo del Barrio received a $1 million grant from the Ford Foundation, establishing the first endowment fund in its history. In addition, El Museo obtained an $800,000 grant from the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone for renovation and expansion of its visitor services. In the last five years, El Museo has received major institutional grants from the Lila Wallace Reader's Digest Fund, the National Arts Stabilization, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

El Museo del Barrio thrives on the sustained excellence of its collections, exhibitions and public programming. It is one of the few Latino museums in the U.S. with a varied permanent collection of 8,000 objects of Caribbean and Latin American art, which includes pre-Columbian Taíno artifacts, traditional arts (including one of the largest and most significant collections of Puerto Rican Santos), 20th century prints, drawings, paintings, sculptures, and installations, as well as photography, documentary film and videos.

El Museo serves as a bridge and catalyst between the Latino population, their diverse cultural heritage, and the rich artistic offerings of New York City. With comprehensive, specially designed educational programs, and a youth and family-friendly atmosphere, El Museo nurtures and educates the next generation of Latino museum visitors. It also engages the growing interest of a national and international public in Latin American arts and culture.

The mission of El Museo del Barrio is to establish a forum that will preserve and project the cultural heritage of Puerto Ricans and all Latin Americans in the United States.

Museum hours: Wed. through Sun. 11 to 5 p.m. Suggested contribution: $4 adults; $2 students and seniors; children under twelve accompanied by adults and members enter free.

El Museo del Barrio may be reached by subway: #6 to 103rd Street station; or by bus: M1, M3, M4 on Madison and Fifth Avenues to 104th Street; local cross-town service between Yorkville or East Harlem and the Upper West Side in Manhattan M96 and M106 or M2.