FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Mayor’s Office of Communications
(415) 554-6131
***PRESS RELEASE***
Nationally recognized expert on arts and cultural affairs, Jonathan Yorba will lead
The Mexican Museum as it plans for a new home.
SAN FRANCISCO, September 1, 2010 – San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom today announced that, after conducting a national search, the Board of Trustees of The Mexican Museum has selected Dr. Jonathan Yorba to lead the organization as the new chief executive officer, effective Sept. 15. “I applaud the Board of Trustees on selecting a candidate who not only possesses an incredible resume as a nationally respected leader in the arts but also has demonstrated tremendous business acumen and extensive experience with economic development, redevelopment, and capital projects,” said Mayor Newsom. “The appointment of Mr. Yorba represents a giant step towards the fulfillment of a dream shared by so many San Francisco residents and visitors to one day see the Museum move to a new home in the exciting Yerba Buena Cultural District.”
This appointment marks an important milestone for the Museum as it prepares for an eventual move from Fort Mason Center to the Yerba Buena District, and as it fulfills its public trust commitment to preserve and display its significant collection of over 12,000 works of art.
Currently the Arts and Cultural Affairs Director for the City of Riverside, California where he is working with the Mayor, City Council, City Manager and staff on a $1.57 billion renaissance of public improvements, including downtown revitalization, Jonathan Yorba possesses a distinguished professional and academic background, including a doctorate from the University of California at Berkeley in Comparative Ethnic Studies, with a focus on American art. He is trained as an artist, museologist, scholar, and in philanthropy and fund-development.
Previous to his position with the City of Riverside, Yorba was the first executive director of La Plaza de Cultura y Artes Foundation, director of education and community programs at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, curator of education at the Crocker Art Museum, and from 1992 to 1997 he served as the acting executive director, interim curator, and independent researcher at The Mexican Museum.
The Co-Chairs of The Mexican Museum’s Board of Trustees Mario Diaz and Nora Wagner, stated, “The Mexican Museum is very fortunate to have Jonathan Yorba return to the Museum. His experience in cultural diplomacy and international relations, his energy and commitment to the 706 Mission Street Project collaboration, and his development background and knowledge of the collection were key factors in choosing him for this major leadership role.”
Yorba brings over 25 years of experience in the arts, culture, and the humanities. He is the founding chairman of the Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino, Inc., a national board that is supporting the initiative to create a new museum for the United States. He has been a Fellow at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Museum of American History. Yorba also is an alumnus of the prestigious Getty Leadership Institute and is the chair of the Ford Foundation Fellows Fund. Yorba has authored numerous important publications including Arte Latino: Treasures from the Smithsonian American Art Museum and has a particular interest in museums and globalization.
“I have been a huge fan of The Mexican Museum for more that 25 years. In fact, my first trip to San Francisco was specifically to visit the Museum,” stated Luis R. Cancel, director of cultural affairs for the San Francisco Arts Commission. “The Mexican Museum recognizes the national and international stature that Mr. Yorba will bring to the Museum. His expertise and experience will provide strong direction to the institution as it moves forward.”
The Redevelopment Agency is working with the Museum on the development of a new, world-class facility. While earlier planning focused on a “stand-alone” building, current efforts are centered on a new mixed-use project that includes “706 Mission Street” and consists of a residential tower incorporating both the landmark Mercantile Building and the Museum.
According to Executive Director of the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency Fred Blackwell, “The Redevelopment Agency and the City are fully committed to the public/private/non-profit partnership that will eventually bring The Mexican Museum to a new home in the heart of Yerba Buena Center, San Francisco’s premier cultural district. The hiring of Mr. Yorba is another significant step in the growth of this vital cultural institution as we work together with the Museum and our development partner, Millennium Partners, toward this long-sought goal.”
“We are very happy that The Mexican Museum will have such a strong chief executive officer to help advance the Museum and make its eventual move to the Yerba Buena Cultural District a reality,” said Sean Jeffries, SF Managing Partner, Millennium Partners.
“I am honored to rejoin The Mexican Museum at this important time in the institution’s history,” said Jonathan Yorba. “I am looking forward to working with this tremendous group of people to plan for a brand-new home that will display and interpret such internationally important collections as the Nelson A. Rockefeller Collection, the Rosa and Miguel Covarrubias Collection, as well as contemporary Mexican and Chicano art, and to providing interesting and engaging exhibitions and programs that appeal to diverse audiences.”
About The Mexican Museum
The Mexican Museum has an important international collection of over 12,000 artworks, including painting, sculpture, and folk art and represents thousands of years of Mexican art and culture within the Americas. The Museum also has an impressive number of rare books and a growing collection of Latin American art.
