For over 26 years, The Mexico Institute has created programs and services of superior quality, scope and scale, consistently fulfilling its mission:
Mission
To advance the knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the rich and diverse Mexican culture through artistic and educational programs.
History
The Mexico Institute was founded in 1989 to bridge the cultural gap between the rapidly growing Mexican community and other cultures in the Dallas area. Under the leadership of founder and director Clara Borja Hinojosa, the tax-exempt 501© (3) Institute is a well-established organization respected for the rich diversity and high quality of its educational and artistic programs. Today, it provides multidisciplinary arts and humanities programs conveying the authentic heritage of Mexico. With offerings designed to reflect the cosmopolitan roots and cross-cultural influences of Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean and South
America, the Institute is a community-building entity that attracts the full spectrum of ethnic and age groups.
Funding comes from membership fees, admissions and the generosity of individuals, foundations and corporations.
Clara Borja Hinojosa
Founding Director was born in central and historical Guanajuato. After her father passed away, the family moved to Mexico City to be closer to her mother’s family and to have a wider field for education. Being number ten of eleven children, she grew up exposed to the rich culture and traditions of Mexico. Her family valued the arts and there were always artists and intellectuals at
her home, which had a great influence in her.
She met her husband Hector, from Texas, while he worked in Mexico and after they married, they moved to Dallas, where their children were born. Then they moved to Brazil and also lived in other cities in this country. After returning to Dallas in 1977, Clara decided to focus on education not only her family, but her friends and community on the rich culture of her country.
She joined different organizations and learned about community work and philanthropy and decided to develop that concept among the Latin American community.
As an active supporter and promoter of the arts and culture of Mexico, Clara has been involved in creating many events in which music, visual and performing arts and literature become a link between cultures and countries. She has served on numerous boards and committees, including The Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture, The Sammons Center for the Arts, The Meadows School of the Arts, The Dallas Museum of Art, the USA Film Festival, Chiapas International and others. Clara has
organized hundreds of cultural, humanitarian, educational events both in the United States and abroad.
Art exhibitions such as Frida Kahlo,, Lola Alvarez Bravo, Lindee Climo, Colorin Colorado, The Great Masters of Mexican Folk Art, Leonora Carrington, Joy Laville and other international exhibitions. The Day of the Spanish Language in 1984, to motivate the proper use of Spanish through writing contests and lectures by some of the best Spanish language writers.
The 1985 Mexico City Earthquake and Gas Explosion Relief Campaign are a sample of the fund raising events. With Chiapas International dedicated to eradicate extreme poverty in Chiapas, where it has already benefited over 50,000 families. Clara learned the importance of philanthropy and in 2001, with The Meadows Foundation and The University of Texas at Austin, created of the first school of philanthropy in Latin America at the University of Puebla. Her passion for Mexican culture has helped to improve understanding between the United States and Mexico. She is now working on a new global project at The University of Texas at Dallas, where the Institute has had an office since 2009,