NEWSOM WELCOMES DR. JONATHAN YORBA AS THE NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE MEXICAN MUSEUM
California Desk
September 03, 2010
Board of Trustees selects nationally recognized expert on Latino art and culture, Jonathan L. Yorba, Ph.D., to lead the Mexican Museum.
San Francisco — San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has 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 September 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 Dr. Yorba represents a major step towards seeing the Museum move to a new home in the Yerba Buena Cultural District."
"I am honored to rejoin the Mexican Museum at this important time in the institutionīs history," said Jonathan Yorba. "I am looking forward to working with this tremendous group of people to build a brand-new home for the display and interpretation of such an important collection, including the Nelson A. Rockefeller Collection of folk art and contemporary Mexican and Chicano art."
Currently, the Arts and Cultural Affairs Director for the City of Riverside 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.
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 Collection, and has a particular interest in museums and globalization.
This appointment marks an important milestone in the Museum as it prepares for a move from Fort Mason Center to the Yerba Buena District, as it fulfills its public trust commitment to preserve and display its significant collection of over 12,000 works of art.
The Co-Chairs of the Mexican Museumīs 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."
"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.
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.
For more information, visit www.mexicanmuseum.org.
San Francisco — San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has 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 September 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 Dr. Yorba represents a major step towards seeing the Museum move to a new home in the Yerba Buena Cultural District."
"I am honored to rejoin the Mexican Museum at this important time in the institutionīs history," said Jonathan Yorba. "I am looking forward to working with this tremendous group of people to build a brand-new home for the display and interpretation of such an important collection, including the Nelson A. Rockefeller Collection of folk art and contemporary Mexican and Chicano art."
Currently, the Arts and Cultural Affairs Director for the City of Riverside 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.
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 Collection, and has a particular interest in museums and globalization.
This appointment marks an important milestone in the Museum as it prepares for a move from Fort Mason Center to the Yerba Buena District, as it fulfills its public trust commitment to preserve and display its significant collection of over 12,000 works of art.
The Co-Chairs of the Mexican Museumīs 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."
"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.
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.
For more information, visit www.mexicanmuseum.org.
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