smithsonian latino art collections - Smithsonian Latino Center

and concentrated in eight core principles and components: Governance and Decision Making, Human
Resources, Finance & Budget, Research, Collections, Education and Public Programs, Audience &
Constituency, Latino Physical Presence. 81
In the area of collections the Oversight Committee recommended as measures of success the
following: “all objects pertinent to U.S. Latino history and culture are indexed, catalogued, preserved
and accessible; reflecting the work of Latino curators, new permanent exhibitions represent U.S. Latino
contributions; Smithsonian museums regularly acquire ne U.S. Latino and Latin American collections;
The Smithsonian and Latino museums throughout the country maintains an active collection-sharing
program.” 82 Similarly, in a the area of education and public program the Oversight Committee
recommended that “Smithsonian museums maintain continuing community initiatives with regional
Latino cultural and arts organizations; through the use of new electronic media, the Smithsonian
museums provide continuing public access to research and information on the nation’s Latino cultural
heritage; the Smithsonian Office of Education and the education offices of the various Smithsonian
museums are fully staffed and Latino-inclusive; Education and public outreach programs reach the
Latino community through Latino museums, university-based Latino academic centers, and K-12
education programs.” 83
With the Smithsonian Board of Regents approval of the establishment of a Smithsonian Center
for Latino Initiatives a few months before the release of the final report, the Oversight Committee
commented on its name and suggested instead to be named “Smithsonian Center for Latino Studies and
Culture, to better reflect its scope and permanence.” 84 Furthermore, it offered a mission statement a
slight different mission statement to the one approved by the Board of Regents: “to foster
understanding and appreciation of the Latino foundations of American society and culture, through the
generation and diffusion of new knowledge based on the collections resources of the Smithsonian
Institution, its unique research environment, its tradition of public scholarship, and its diverse education
and public programs.” 85
Since space had not been identified for the new center, the Committee suggested the Arts and
Industries Building and proposed success measures for it: “Latino-focused exhibitions and presentations
and the Center for Latino Studies and Culture occupy a prominent place in the Arts and Industries
Building; the Arts and Industries Building houses the Hall of American Cultural Life which focuses
attention on the American cultural experience; a program of temporary exhibits provides continuing
documentation of Latino cultural issues; permanent Latino-focused exhibitions exist in the various
Smithsonian museums and are regularly updated and upgraded with institutional funding; the
establishment of a National Latino Museum of Arts and Culture is an integral part of the Smithsonian’s
institutional goals.” 86
Between the years 1995 and 1998, the Institution increased its Latino initiatives exponentially.
NMAA’s Renwick Gallery presented the traveling exhibition Michael Lucero: Sculpture 1976-1995 in
September 1997. The NMAA put on display recently acquired works from the Teodoro Vidal gift
including paintings by José Campeche. The HMSG, as part of its Directions series, presented Directions:
Carmen Lomas Garza in November 1995-February 1996 followed by Triumph of the Spirit: Carlos Alfonzo
in July 1998. NMAH featured Thirty Years of Infinity in July-December 1997 as well as an exhibit case on
81 Ibid., p. 13-16.
82 Ibid., p. 32.
83 Ibid., p. 35.
84 Ibid., p. 40.
85 Ibid., p. 40.
86 Ibid., p. 41.
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