Hispanic Heritage series – Part V of V
Claudia Moran’s journey to becoming executive director of Museo de las Americas began in Mexico City where her passion for archeology and art was nurtured.
Moran was born and raised in Guadalajara, Mexico and earned a Bachelor’s in Archaeology from Escuela Nacional de Antropologia e Historia in Mexico City. In Mexico, she participated in various archaeological projects sponsored by Mexican and American universities.
Moran’s path eventually led her to Denver, where she and her high school sweetheart, Carlos Gonzalez, settled. Finding herself in a new country, Moran sought to create a sense of belonging and community.
“That is when I was introduced by a couple of friends, some from Mexico, some Chicano, to (Museo de las Americas),” said Moran.
“The sense of community and the connection with the different groups that were not only Latino, Chicano, Hispanic, Mexican American, all these conversations gave me a sense of my purpose. I wanted to contribute to all the different communities, and I started moving from (working) visitor services to education and programming,” she added. “That sense of community and educational programming with the children got me engaged, interested, and passionate about museums. That’s how I started my career.”
Moran’s career with Museo de las Americas has stretched for longer than 15 years where she has helped lead the Museo’s mission of providing Latino arts and culture exhibitions and programming for local and regional communities while inspiring and educating people of all ages and backgrounds.
Today, Museo de las Americas has over 4,000 items and objects in its collection, including Ancient American, Spanish colonial, fine art, pottery, textiles, contemporary art, and more. Thanks to its large collection, the Museo has art objects that represent every country in South and Central America, Mesoamerica, the Caribbean, and the Southwest United States, including Denver.
The Museo focuses on protecting, preserving, and sharing Latin American history and culture while representing Latino art and artists.
“The exhibits and programs we offer are around to help us understand cultural pride, and give a sense of identity for younger generations who haven’t gone back to their countries of origin and to create a wider perspective of what it means to be a Latino now,” said Moran.
When asked about Hispanic Heritage Month, Moran said she sees the time as a celebration that brings awareness to the contributions Latinos, Chicanos, and Hispanics have brought to the United States.
Museo de las Americas is located at 861 Santa Fe Drive in Denver. It is open Tuesday through Friday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. To reach the Museo, call 303-571-4401 or visit museo.org.
