(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The National Museum of Mexican Art has received a hefty grant to support young people in Chicago.
The 1 million dollar grant from the McCormick Foundation will help the museum turn an old fire station in Little Village into a creative space for its youth program Yollocalli Arts Reach.
Vanessa Sanchez with the museum said The Yollocalli Fire Station will be a mix of a youth and community space.
"That first floor is going to be a welcoming space, not just for young people, but for anyone in the community… The second floor is like that VIP area just for them, that they can do all the youth programs that we offer, everything from graffiti, street art, digital video and photo."
She says the space will support an additional 300 youth a year.
"This really just helps put us a step forward in the right direction, into ensuring that the space is ready and open for the young people in the next year, and that young people can feel welcome and supported."
The project is expected to coast a total of 4 million dollars and work is already underway.
The new facility is expected to open in August of 2025.
The renovation is part of the museum’s “Arte for All: Uniting People from Neighborhood to Nation” capital campaign, which is working to increase access to Mexican art and culture.
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