Board Chair of The Mexican Museum Meets with Mexico's President Enrique Peña Nieto

The Mexican Museum, the premier West Coast museum of Mexican, Mexican-American, Chicano, Latin American and Latino art, culture and heritage, announces that Andrew Kluger, Chairman of the Museum's Board of Directors, has returned from a trip to Mexico where he met with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto. The purpose of the trip was to promote The Mexican Museum and inform President Peña Nieto and other government and civic leaders about the Museum's new building project and to invite them to the groundbreaking ceremony slated for early 2015.

"President Peña Nieto graciously acknowledged The Mexican Museum's leadership role as a standard bearer for Mexico's rich culture, history, and art here in the United States," said Kluger. "In addition, he has pledged his full support of our plans for an expanded new museum facility in the heart of San Francisco's Yerba Buena Garden Arts District."

During the meeting at the Palacio Nacional in Mexico City, Kluger also presented the President and other dignitaries with the latest edition of The Mexican Museum's book, "Tesoros del Museo." The book highlights the Museum's important collections, which include seminal works by some of the most important and influential Mexican and Mexican-American artists in history, as well as invaluable archaeological pieces. The Mexican Museum currently maintains a permanent collection of over 15,500 objects, reflecting Pre-Hispanic, Colonial, Popular, Modern and Contemporary Mexican, Mexican-American, Latin American, Latino, and Chicano art.

"President Peña Nieto feels that it is very important for people in the United States to learn and appreciate the rich culture of Mexico, and how its art and traditions can help foster closer ties," said Kluger. "He also requested that I continue to work closely with other Mexican leaders as we move forward with plans for upcoming museum programs and our new facility," said Kluger.

Among such Mexican leaders are Dr. Andrés Roemer, Consul General of Mexico in San Francisco, and Dr. Sergio Alcocer Martinez de Castro, Mexico's Undersecretary for North American Relations. In addition, Kluger will continue to update Ambassador Alfonso de la Maria y Campos, dean of the Mexican Diplomatic Corps. The distinguished Ambassador formerly served as Consul General of Mexico in San Francisco, Director General of Publications at Mexico's National Council for Culture and the Arts (CONACULTA), and Director General of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).

During Kluger's trip, Dr. Martinez de Castro arranged a meeting between Kluger and key personnel at the National University of Mexico, where they discussed developing future programs in conjunction with The Mexican Museum. The Museum will also be coordinating with work groups at the University in order to develop visiting artist-in-residence programs and new exhibitions.

About The Mexican Museum: Founded by San Francisco artist Peter Rodriguez in 1975 in the heart of the Mission District, The Mexican Museum is located at Fort Mason Center, is the realization of a vision to exhibit the aesthetic expression of the Mexican and Mexican American people. Today, the museum's vision has expanded to reflect the evolving scope of the Mexican, Chicano and Latino experience - including art, culture, history and heritage. In 2012, The Mexican Museum became an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, the nation's largest museum network. The museum currently has a permanent collection of more than 15,500 objects reflecting Pre-Hispanic, Colonial, Popular, Modern and Contemporary Mexican, Mexican-American, Latin American, Latino, and Chicano art.

The Mexican Museum is open Wednesday - Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., located at Fort Mason Center, Building D, Marina Boulevard and Buchanan Street, in San Francisco. FREE Admission. The Museum offers a wide variety of programs, including Family Sundays, exhibitions, special events, lectures and public programming throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. For more information, please visit: http://www.mexicanmuseum.org or call (415) 202-9700.

The Museum is currently preparing for the completion of its permanent home, which will be built in downtown San Francisco's Yerba Buena Garden Arts District and is expected to open in 2018.