They propose to establish the Moneda Cultural Corridor

Moneda Street, in the Historic Center of Mexico City, is one of the founding streets of the capital of New Spain, which today houses 11 cultural sites considered historical heritage. Yesterday, some representatives of these museums reported their intention to form the Moneda Cultural Corridor, in order to collaborate, mount joint exhibitions and face their problems.

On this corridor are the Herdez Foundation, the UNAM Hoy Museum, the Archbishop’s Palace, the National Palace, the House of the First Printing Press of America, the Ex Teresa Arte Actual gallery, the National Museum of World Cultures (MNCM) , the Casa Mayorazgo de Guerrero (subdirectorate of INAH Laboratories), the Academy of San Carlos and the José Luis Cuevas Museum.

The directors of some of these venues said that they seek to strengthen the artistic and cultural life of one of the oldest and most historic streets in the City.

At the press conference, attended by Alejandra Gómez, director of the MNCM; Antonio Zirión, director of the House of the First Printing Press of Mexico; Claudia de la Garza, director of the UNAM Hoy Museum; Ana Belem Fernández, from the Palacio de la Autonomía, and Adriana Lazo, from the Casa Mayorazgo de Guerrero, announced the first steps that this cultural project will take and the problems they face.

During the first museum night, the MNCM will take a guided tour of the site room and the mural The Revolutionby Rufino Tamayo; the San Carlos Academy will hold a drawing session with a model and a performance of Clown.

The Tercerunquinto Collective will prepare a protest Alphabet at the House of the First Printing Press of America, while a guided tour of the exhibition will be held at the UNAM Palace of Autonomy Constellations and supernovae.

The Casa del Mayorazgo de Guerrero will take a guided tour of the mural singing and musicby Rufino Tamayo; PerforMANcena will be staged at the Ex Teresa Arte Actual MONU-ments, heroes and gastronomyand at the UNAM Museum today there will be literary activities with Universo de Letras and a comic workshop.

Blockades, commerce and vandalism

Regarding their problems, the representatives said they were affected by the constant blockades due to the relevance of the National Palace, although We are aware of its importance as the epicenter of politics in our country and the special security it requiresthey stated.

They assure that Starting in 2018, when it became the presidential residence and headquarters of the morning conferences, metal fences were installed on both sides of the street, both on Seminario and Correo Mayor. This restriction modified the dynamics of the street and impacted the operation and access to the venues. In addition, vehicle blockades are carried out without offering alternatives to mitigate the impact on cultural venues..

This has caused the museums on this block to lose up to 30 percent of their attendance, since Visitors are discouraged by the number of filters and end up not entering the exhibitions, not to mention the exhibitions that have been rescheduled, postponed or canceled when there are special closures, or the complication of unloading pieces or paintings over long distances due to the blockade of vehicles.

However, despite these conditions, the representatives of the venues said they were optimistic because they know that there will be a great space for dialogue with the corresponding authorities, since We are undoubtedly facing a complex and multifactorial problem that is not easily resolved..

There is also the aspect of informal commerce, whose activity leaves a large amount of garbage and waste that attracts infestations of rats and cockroaches, which enter the premises and force fumigation, which can damage the murals, paintings or the files they protect.

Likewise, they have detected damage to the museum facades, which leads to extraordinary repairs, even though many of these facilities do not have a current expense for maintenance.

We are willing to dialogue and contribute ideas, the joint work of the Historic Center Authority, the local Secretariat of Culture, the National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature, the National Institute of Anthropology and History, as well as the Presidency, Security is required. Citizen, Territorial Planning, and others. We have to work togetherthey concluded.