Museum Consultant Hired

Supporters of a proposed California museum of Latino history, art and culture have hired a consultant to help find a site and develop fund-raising plans now that they have received $300,000 in seed money from the Legislature.

“I think the legislation and the state grant now establish this museum as the museum for Latino history, art and culture in California,” said Assemblyman Charles M. Calderon (D-Whittier), who authored the funding bill. “It provides us now with the credentials that we need to talk to corporations and other philanthropists.”

As described in Calderon’s legislation, the museum is intended to “inform and educate the public as to the contributions of Latino-Americans and enhance cultural understanding and appreciation.” It will house contemporary artworks and historical and cultural artifacts, he said.

Trustees of the proposed museum have hired David de la Torre, a former director of the Mexican Museum in San Francisco, as consultant “to help develop the mission for the museum as well as a long-term and short-term development plan, which would include fund-raising strategy, site location and development,” Calderon said.

The legislature’s passage of the $300,000 bill came in October after a four-year effort by Calderon, Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alatorre and other Latino community leaders.

Last year, the Los Angeles City Council allocated $50,000 to be used toward the building of the museum.

No site has yet been selected, but Mike Burns, Calderon’s chief of staff, said he is “99% sure it will be in the L.A. area.”