By: Daniel Nardini

On this Cinco de Mayo holiday weekend, I highly recommend to all my readers two places to visit; the National Museum of Mexican Art and the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture. These two fine Latino cultural institutions are worth a visit by the whole family as well as to explore among the finest in Latino arts and tradition. The National Museum of Mexican Art, located in the heart of the Pilsen community, opened its doors to the public in 1987. Its goal has been and continues to be to exhibit the finest in Mexican art and culture through artwork from Mexico’s past to its present. It has excellent rotating exhibits from Mexico and from the local Mexican American community. In addition, the museum has symposiums, theater, dance and music events, workshops, and visits by famous authors and performance companies. The National Museum of Mexican Art is located on 1852 West 19th Street in Chicago. For more information, call the museum at 312-738-1503.

The Institute of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture, founded in 2001, celebrates Puerto Rico’s identity and heritage. The institute is located in the heart of the Puerto Rican community in Chicago at the historic Humboldt Park Stables on 3015 West Division Street. The institute has local quality community arts as well as arts workshops, films in the park, and an outdoor fine arts and crafts festival. The institute’s goal is to show the Puerto Rican community in Chicago, and indeed all visitors, the rich beauty and heritage of Puerto Rico’s arts, culture and tradition. For more information, call the institute at 773-486-8345.