Mensaje de Cheryl Hartup

Directora
Lanzamiento Campaña Capital

Muy buenos días.

Se siente bien estar de nuevo en casa. Sobre todo, cuando mi regreso coincide con este momento tan importante para el Museo de Arte de Ponce.

As a Puerto Rican by heart, who has been living in the diaspora for a few years con mi esposo, un ponceño, I have been fully aware of the great struggles that Puerto Rico has faced in a short period of time. From Hurricane Maria to the earthquakes that affected the southwestern region of the Island, and the COVID-19 Pandemic, our everyday life has changed dramatically .Nevertheless, the resilience of the People of Puerto Rico has always prevailed… and I believe it is because we know how to work together for the collective good. Puerto Ricans have a unique and rare capacity to move forward, together, in times of great adversity.

Almost two years ago, our Museo de Arte de Ponce was severely damaged by the January 7, 2020 earthquake, and the seismic activity that followed, and yet, we are still standing and active. We never hesitated to reinvent ourselves. We continued to provide our community art workshop sin the streets, under tarps, in shelters and open spaces with the program “El Museo sale a la calle”. Two months later, the challenge was even greater with the COVID – 19 Pandemic. Our team moved fast and changed gears to develop a virtual program called ConectARTE. This project was crucial to Museo de Arte de Ponce receiving the highest honor given by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. We are one of three museums recognized this year for making a significant difference in the lives of individuals, families, and communities.

These accomplishments, made before my time, show that Museo the Arte Ponce truly represents the essence of the Puerto Rican People, our resilience and our spirit.
I am honored to be the new director of our beloved institution, to return to Ponce, which I consider my home, and to lead an outstanding team of employees committed to the Museum, the arts, our culture, and Puerto Rico.

I assure you that we will continue to provide and strengthen our community programs.

Next year we will start sharing our collection with Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, Museo de Arte y Diseño de Miramar, Museo de Arte del Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, and we look forward to collaborating with more partners on the island. In addition, we will travel selections from Museo de Arte de Ponce’s collection to international museums, beginning in 2022, so diverse audience scan experience what Puerto Rico has to offer to the world. Above all, we will rebuild our art galleries and while the reconstruction process takes place, we will reactivate the museum with projects by local artists and cultural programs in the safe spaces within our facilities.

We will work hard on our way to reopening the front doors of this magnificent museum again. Most of all, I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to join us in all of these efforts, and to contribute to the rebuilding of this extraordinary cultural patrimony that Don Luis A. Ferré gifted to the People of Puerto Rico. I ask all of you to be part of this pivotal moment for the Museum and the arts and culture community of Puerto Rico. We are going to be able to open the splendid galleries of the Edward Durell Stone building again because we are not alone. From this stage I see representatives of the private sector and the government, our peers from other museums, artists, the media, Puerto Rico’s cultural and educational community, and friends of Museo de Arte de Ponce.

In the true spirit of the Puerto Rican People, once again we will join our will and our resources to make sure that Museo de Arte de Ponce is strong and sustainable to welcome future generations.

Nuevamente, bienvenidos y gracias a todos por acompañarnos hoy en este día tan especial para nosotros.