Mexico wins 2 awards as cultural destination

Mexico was recognized as a leading cultural destination last night when it earned two international awards at a ceremony in London, England.

The Gran Museo del Mundo Maya in Mérida, Yucatán, was one of six regional winners in a category called Best Emerging Cultural Destinations of the Year. The museum, which opened in 2012 to celebrate the culture of the Maya, both past and present, was the winner for the Central and South American region.

Mexico City was singled out for the second award, Best Emerging City for Culture, beating Manchester, U.K.; Oslo, Norway; Palma de Mallorca, Spain; and Venice, Italy.

The Leading Culture Destination Awards, which have also been referred to as the Oscars for museums, ranked the Mérida museum No. 1 on a short list that included the Museum of Memory and Tolerance and the Museo Somaya in Mexico City, the Biomuseo in Panama City, La Ene in Buenos Aires and the Rio Museum of Art in Rio de Janeiro.

The awards program, now in its second year, “celebrates the vibrancy and vitality of museums and institutions around the world . . . .” Cultural destinations aren’t just about art experiences but are social hubs where visitors can also eat, shop, work and even sleep.

That broader definition of the cultural destination is reflected in the diversity of the awards: Best Exhibitions and Programming is one category, but Best Digital Experience, Best Eat and Drink and Best Shop are others.

The overall winner, as the Leading Cultural Destination of the Year, was the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Nominations for the awards program are made by what its organizers describe as the world’s most influential and traveled creative professionals.

A co-founder said that while London, Paris and New York might be world leaders in museums and cultural institutions, a growing number of cities in Asia, the Middle East and Latin America are starting to provide serious competition.

Florian Wupperfeld said the awards celebrate new and innovative ways to provide and encourage cultural experiences, and facilitate new ways for the arts to reach travelers.

David Nájera, deputy head of mission at the Mexican embassy in London, represented Mexico at last night’s event.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE