¿PORQUE LO LLAMAN, El MUSEO... ? YOU'RE NOT A MUSEUM!

El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe doesn't seem to fit into the general concept of a museum. We are more like a comunity center than the conventional museum.

We call El Museo, "a Center of Hispanic Culture and Learning." It is a place where one learns through shared experience. We showcase and promote Hispanic art, culture, and history. We not only incorporate the traditions of Northern New Mexico, but also celebrate the culture of the larger Latin and Central American Diaspora that make up our community.

El Museo celebrated its 10th anniversary this summer. Seven years ago we moved into our present building, a rundown, dirty, inaccessible liquor warehouse, which was renovated with the help of many volunteers. We started with just a small gallery in the front, and now we use the entire 32,000 square ft. building. We have a 200-seat theater facility that we created using used props and seating donated by the Santa Fe Opera and other local theater companies.

Since Nov. 2004 we have been the home to the Santa Fe chapter of Veterans for Peace, and we also host the Winter Farmer's Market and the winter Contemporary Hispanic Market. We share our facility with many other organizations, public and private schools, and we host various community events. We mount frequent art exhibits in our gallery space as well as providing room for numerous classes and workshops.

Predominately a volunteer organization and staffed by only one person, El Museo is making a huge impact on the Santa Fe community by bringing together groups that might not traditionally intersect. Our work is important to engaging young people in cultural and arts activities, and we are happy to be part of the continued growth of the Railyard District.