Carlos Tortolero / USA
Carlos Tortolero is the founder and president of the National Museum of Mexican Art (NMAA), the only Latino museum accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Since opening in 1987, the museum has become a national model for its exhibits, performances, arts education programs and advocacy on cultural equity issues. NMAA contains over 8,000 objects in its permanent collection, has won national awards for excellence in youth arts programming and has an extensive performing arts program. Twenty exhibitions organized by the NMMA have traveled across the country, and eight have traveled to Mexico. From 1975–1987, Tortolero worked as a teacher, counselor and administrator in the Chicago Public School System. He has served on numerous boards, including those of the University of Illinois, American Alliance of Museums, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, Smithsonian Latino Center, Illinois Humanities Council and Choose Chicago (Chicago’s tourism and convention board). Tortolero is the co-author of Mexican Chicago, a well-received photo history book about the Mexican community of Chicago, and has written articles for national and international publications. He has also taught classes at University of Illinois at Chicago, The School of the Art Institute and Northwestern University. Tortolero has a B.A. in secondary education and history from the University of Illinois at Chicago and an M.A. in bilingual education supervision from Chicago State University.
ORGANIZATION: National Museum of Mexican Art
SHORT BIO: Founder and President
WEBSITE: www.nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org
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