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MUSEO SELECTS MARUCA SALAZAR AS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
David Dadone promoted to deputy director
Contact: Megan Headley| 303.571.4401 ext. 23 | pr@museo.org

Denver, CO (May 26, 2009) - The Museo de las Americas (Museo) Board of Trustees announced today that Maruca Salazar has been selected as the new executive director. Additionally, David Dadone, former director of operations for the Museo, has been promoted to deputy director. Salazar will assume the position in July.

"We are delighted that Maruca Salazar will be leading the Museo de las Americas as the new Executive Director," stated George Martinez, Board president. "She comes to us with a wealth of artistic, administrative, and curatorial experience. Furthermore, Maruca's relationships with teachers and artists throughout the region will greatly assist us in increasing the scope and reach of our education programs, while expanding our artistic vision."

Prior to joining the Museo, Salazar served as the arts coordinator and arts staff developer for Denver Public Schools. During her tenure, Salazar developed an integrate arts education program, and was responsible for the development and stewardship of the $6.5 million arts budget. She holds a Master's of Arts in Multicultural Education from the University of Colorado, Denver; and a Bachelor's of Arts in Multicultural Education from the University of Veracruz, Mexico.

"This is the opportunity of a lifetime and a true honor," stated Salazar. "As an artist and educator, as well as a long time supporter and participant of the Museo de las Americas, I am committed to advancing Museo's legacy of learning and sharing."

A longtime advocate for the arts, Salazar is a founding member and supporter of the Chicano Humanities and Arts Council, XicanIndie Film Festival, Pirate Gallery, and the Museo de las Americas. As a Visual Artist she has exhibited at local museums and galleries, including the Museo and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Denver.

"This is an exciting time for the Museo," stated Martinez. "The Board and staff are confident that Maruca will lead the Museo to new and exciting places, and cement our place as a cornerstone of Denver and the West's cultural community."

SIXTY STUDENTS FROM THE DENVER INNER CITY PARISH TO ATTEND SUMMER CAMP AT MUSEO DE LAS AMERICAS
Key Bank contributes$4000 to the Museo scholarship fund
Contact: Megan Headley| 303.571.4401 ext. 23 | pr@museo.org

Denver, CO (June 2, 2009) - The Museo is excited to announce KeyBank's contribution to its scholarship fund which will allow 60 students from the Denver Inner City Parish to attend the Museo de las Americas summer camp program. Each student will have the opportunity to select his or her top two programs to participate in over the summer. "This is a great opportunity not only to learn about Latin American arts and culture, but also to expose younger members of the community to different resources available to them" stated Claudia Moran, Education Director at Museo de las Americas.

The week long camp will run from 9 a.m. to noon June 15-19, 22-26, July 27-31 and August 10-14. The students attending the June sessions will learn about and create pottery, weaving, cartoons and murals. Those enrolled in the July and August sessions will study the various cultures of Latin America and paper arts.

Local artists and teachers trained to work with youth will lead all the workshops. The programs are tailored slightly based on ages of the students, where the younger students will take part in interactive activities that are creative yet educational and older students will have more in-depth and challenging projects blending historical and contemporary subject matters.

There is still space available; cost of the weekly sessions varies on a donation-based sliding scale. For information on the summer camp program, please contact Claudia Moran at claudia@museo.org

The Museo de las Americas receives generous donations from Irving Tragen and Gail Jarocki
Contact: Megan Headley| 303.571.4401 ext. 23 | pr@museo.org

Denver, CO (May 3rd, 2009) - The Museo de las Americas is expanding its Folk Art and Pre-Columbian collections thanks to generous donations from Irving Tragen and Gail Jarocki. Secretary of the Museo Board of Trustees, Gary Meyer, stated that "During this challenging economic period, it is gratifying to learn that the friends of the Museo continue their financial contributions as well as the gifting of treasured artifacts to this institution."

The Pre-Columbian objects donated by Gail Jarocki, daughter of the late Retha Bloodworth, are from Mexico and Latin America and were acquired by the Bloodworth family in the 1950's and 1960's. The sixty three objects, consisting of ceramic figures, pottery and jade jewelry, were presented to the Museo last week and will enhance the Bloodworth Pre-Columbian Collection on permanent display. These pieces are currently being appraised.

The Irving G. and Eleanor D. Tragen collection is composed of about 2,500 Latin American folk art objects. All Latin American countries, with the exception of the Guyanas, are represented in the collection. The Tragen Family Trust recently provided the Museo with an additional gift of several hundred pieces of artifacts to enhance their permanent collection of Latin American Folk Art on display at The Tragen Galley. The recent donation - textiles, basketry, fine and utilitarian pottery and glass ware, ceramic figures, wood carvings, masks, jewelry, prints, paintings, miniatures, dolls and toys- has an appraisal value of $5000.

The donated objects will complement the Museo's existing Tragen and Blooodworth collection and will continue to be used as a resource from which the Museo launches many of its educational programs. Thousands of children (Latino and Anglo), as well as hundreds of visitors observe and learn from the Bloodworth and Tragen collection on display at the Museo de las Americas.

ABOUT THE MUSEO DE LAS AMERICAS

The Museo de las Americas located in the heart of Denver's Santa Fe Art District in Denver, Colorado, is committed to its mission to educate our community about the diversity of Latino Americano art and culture from ancient to contemporary. The Museo presents exhibitions and education programs that offer new views on Latin American art and culture, advancing the role of Latino artists in the global cultural dialogue and becoming a cultural hub for the local, national and global community. The Museo has also established itself as an integral educational resource for teachers and students. Through interactive tours and outreach workshops of its collections and temporary exhibitions, the Museo has provided valuable learning tools to the school curriculum.