Stupendous news! Most everyone’s least favorite building in Centro Historico (the Banorte building on the corner of Belisario Domínguez y Constitución; the court building in Olas Altas is also widely hated) is to be converted to a beautiful new civic center—Centro de Inovación Cultural Mazatlán—thanks to the support of Pilar Artola de Salido from the Patronato IMCA IAP (Impulsora de la Cultura y de las Artes, Institution of Private Assistance). The new center was announced at noon today by Governor Quirino Ordaz Coppel; his wife, Rosy Fuentes de Ordaz; our new mayor, José Joel Boucieguez Lizárraga; Papil Ramírez Bernal, Director of Instituto Sinaloense de Cultura; our own beloved Director of Cultura Mazatlán, Raúl Rico; local and state arts leaders; a whole lot of distinguished guests; masses of press and about 100 citizens. Two slide shows and a video were presented by IMCA secretary, María Elena Rendón Pimentel.

Just one small piece of the wonderful project will be restoration of the corner of the building to its original neoclassical style!!!

The interior will include a very cool-looking room for robotic art, history museum, art workshops for adults and children, galleries for art exhibitions, meeting rooms, a virtual reality salon, a dance and music room, a center for social and business entrepreneurialism, and a multimedia ceiling covered with stars. Significantly to me, who had to drive all the way to Durango for my son to take SAT tests out of season, the new center will also include an international education classroom for precisely such purposes! Below are photos of the presentation slides.

The goal is to make this space inviting and inclusive of all the residents of Mazatlan. Significant community outreach to the poorer colomias is planned.

Amidst all the beautification efforts we are recently undergoing, this project stands out as one with the potential to transform our community in a significant way.