Dear Friends,
El Museo del Barrio's board, staff, and I wish you the happiest of holidays and a prosperous 2012! This fall marked a great homecoming for me. After being away for five years, I've returned to a place that has grown immensely and welcomes nearly a quarter of a million people per year - twice as many than it did when I first started as an intern. I've joined a dedicated staff of talented professionals who make El Museo thrive. The year ahead will be marked by groundbreaking exhibitions that will expand our reach and the culture of the Caribbean.
Kicking off the New Year will be our 35th Annual Three Kings Day Parade on January 6th. We'll be joined by approximately 3,000 children and 45 schools marching down the streets of El Barrio. We invite families, community organizations, and visitors from near and far to join us for this beloved tradition.
Our permanent collection, ranging from Taíno material to contemporary works, will be taking center stage in early 2012, as we've just installed VOCES Y VISIONES: Gran Caribe, an exhibition highlighting gems from our permanent holdings that bring the Caribbean diaspora to life. Opening in February 2012 will be TESTIMONIOS: 100 Years of Popular Expression devoted to the popular art traditions that are another integral part of our permanent collection. I'm especially proud of the forthcoming exhibition, Caribbean: Crossroads of the World, a collaboration with The Studio Museum in Harlem and the Queens Museum, which opens this summer. This landmark collaboration is the culmination of years of research and organization led by El Museo del Barrio's Curatorial Department and other renowned scholars, researchers and experts on the Caribbean.
El Museo continues to produce exciting programs and exhibitions that win critical acclaim, but we can't do it alone. Please consider a gift to support El Museo's Cultural Celebrations throughout the year, including our upcoming Three Kings Day Parade... the kings gave gold, frankincense and myrrh, but you can click here and give a fully tax deductible donation! Every gift counts, and brings us one step closer to delivering the highest quality programs possible.
In 2012, I hope that you come visit, come see, come learn...just come and visit soon!
Afectuosamente,
Margarita Aguilar
Executive Director