Change of Leadership at the Museo de Arte de Ponce

(Ponce, Puerto Rico – September 16, 2021)– The Board of Trustees of the Luis A. Ferré Foundation, along with its president, María Luisa Ferré,announced that Alejandra Peña Gutiérrez will culminate her role as Executive Director of the Museo de Arte de Ponce,effective of October 31, 2021, after her appointment as Director of the Weisman Art Museum of the University of Minnesota, in Minneapolis.

After eight years as head of the Museum, Peña Gutiérrez leaves a financially stable institution, that has renovated many of the internal processes and developed projects for the care and study of its Collection, while achieving important collaborations with institutions such as The Frick Collection, Dia Foundation, MoMA PS1, Leighton House, just to mention a few.

“We have been able to face the challenges of the past years because of the commitment of a solid work team that has managed to take advantage of moments of adversity and transformed them in opportunities of growth and visibility for the Museum”, informed Peña Gutiérrez. Probably, one of the most visible aspects of her work as leader of the Institution has been the development of an inclusive community project, that has emphasized in the attention of the most vulnerable groups of the community. This initiative lead the Museum to be awarded with the National Medal 2021 granted by the Institute of Museum and Library Services to museums and libraries in recognition of the relevance of their community projects.

Under her leadership, and in close collaboration with the Board of Trustees and the Luis A. Ferré Foundation, Peña Gutiérrez has developed a plan to address the damages caused to the Museum’s main building as a consequence of the seismic events that affected the Southwestern region of the island in January of 2020. A detailed study and damage assessment, that includes a mitigation plan for the reconstruction and seismic reinforcement of the Edward Durell Stone Building, was performed as part of this process. At the same time, the institution has taken the pertinent steps with FEMA and the private insurance company to secure a portion of the costs of the reconstruction work.

“The Museum is now preparing to join forces from all sectors and begin the reconstruction of the facilities and the transformation that will reaffirm the important role the institution plays in the cultural, artistic and educational scene, not only in Puerto Rico, but also in the Caribbean and the world”, said María Luisa Ferré and the members of the Museum’s Board of Trustees.

The transition period, in which Peña Gutiérrez will be part of, will continue with the Board of Trustees leading the process of searching for the next leader of the Institution.