Irapuato Receives International Award

Irapuato Receives International Award as a "Cultural Municipality" for its "Museum in My Community" Program
The distinction was awarded by the Colombian foundation INCLUSOCIAL for bringing art to neighborhoods and rural communities through a traveling project launched in 2022.
Irapuato – The Foundation for the Development of Solidarity and Social Inclusion (INCLUSOCIAL), based in Colombia, recognized Irapuato with the international "Cultural Municipality" award thanks to its "Museum in My Community" program, which has brought art and culture to various neighborhoods and rural communities in the municipality.

This recognition is part of the Latin American Award for Economic and Social Development of Municipalities, created by INCLUSOCIAL to recognize local governments that promote innovative projects in areas such as social, economic, urban, and sustainable development.

Mayor Lorena Alfaro García celebrated the recognition and reiterated her administration's commitment to the democratization of culture. "In Irapuato, we are convinced that art and culture should not be a privilege; it is a universal right that must reach everyone. Art must connect with the people; it must be shared in our neighborhoods, in our neighborhoods, and rural communities," she stated.
The "Museum in My Community" program was planned since 2022 and is implemented through traveling exhibitions that are integrated into the Service Brigades in coordination with the Municipal DIF. In 2023, it visited 15 communities, and so far in 2024, it has reached 14 locations, generating inclusive access to large-format exhibitions and collective works, especially aimed at audiences that traditionally do not have access to museum spaces.

Councilwoman Liliana Flores, president of the City Council's Public Health, Assistance, and Social Development Commission, received the award on behalf of the municipality during the ceremony held in Colombia.

INCLUSIVE, a non-profit organization, promotes the right to a dignified life for vulnerable populations by promoting good government practices. With this award, Irapuato positions itself as a Latin American benchmark in cultural inclusion policies.
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