NMDCA News:
ALBUQUERQUE — The National Hispanic Cultural Center has launched its first national partnership to connect communities in Albuquerque and Salem, Massachusetts through shared Latino arts, culture and history.
A memorandum of understanding signed April 30 brings together the National Hispanic Cultural Center (NHCC), the City of Salem and the North Shore Community Development Coalition, which operates Salem’s Punto Urban Art Museum. The agreement designates Salem as a Cultural Ambassador City and expands the NHCC Cultural Ambassador Program beyond New Mexico for the first time since its 2023 launch.
“Hispanic culture is foundational to the identity of New Mexico, and we are proud to pioneer a partnership that connects our heritage with the vibrant Latino communities of New England,” said Cabinet Secretary Debra Garcia y Griego of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. “This cross-regional collaboration will foster a rich exchange of ideas, deepen historical research, and create meaningful new opportunities for both states.”
“This groundbreaking partnership helps establish our Center as a truly national hub for Hispanic excellence,” said Zack Quintero, executive director of the National Hispanic Cultural Center. “It expands our reach to the East Coast while connecting Albuquerque and Salem to resources that will benefit both communities.”
As a part of the agreement, Salem will have access to the NHCC’s History and Literary Arts archive to support research and preservation of Hispanic and Latino contributions in New England. NHCC staff will work with Salem organizations to identify and protect significant documents, photographs and cultural sites reflecting Latino heritage—including Salem’s Dominican and Puerto Rican communities.
The partners aim to preserve community history locally while elevating those stories to a national audience through NHCC platforms.
More about the National Hispanic Cultural Center
The National Hispanic Cultural Center is dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and advancement of Hispanic culture, arts, and humanities. The NHCC presents mission-related events throughout the year, some produced by its history, literary, educational, performing, and visual arts programs, and others by partnering with external organizations. Events take place at its 20-plus-acre campus, which includes a plaza, an art museum, a historically designated building, a library, and a genealogy center. The NHCC is a division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs and is further supported by the National Hispanic Cultural Center Foundation.