RIVERSIDE, Calif.–Altura Credit Union here has made a $600,000 pledge to the planned Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art, Culture & Industry at the Riverside Art Museum.
Marin, a TV actor who remains best known to many as one half of the Cheech & Chong comedy duo among other roles, was on hand at the offices of Altura Credit Union as part of the announcement.
The terms of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the city and the Riverside Art Museum “Cheech Project,” a term that Marin has coined himself, required the initiative to raise at least $3 million by the end of May. The donation from Altura has pushed the total to $3,131,547.91, which is allowing the project to move forward.
“The Cheech” will be a permanent home for Marin’s more than 700 works of Chicano art, including paintings, sculptures, and photography, making up the most prominent collection of its kind in the U.S., according to InlandEmpire.US.
At an event at Altura Credit Union, supporters of “The Cheech,” friends of the Riverside Art Museum, and representatives of the city and state government joined with Marin and Altura CU CEO to recognize the award. Assemblyman Jose Medina (D-Riverside) also announced a pledge of $22,500 from the California Legislative Latino Caucus.
“I am so excited to see how Altura Credit Union is stepping up to help bring my collection and celebration of this art here to a permanent home in Riverside,” Marin was quoted as saying by InslandEmpire.US. “It is the support from both private and public donors that is making this vision come to life, and the truth is, this is only the beginning.”
“Making this pledge to The Cheech is another aspect of Altura Credit Union’s commitment to cultural enrichment through the arts,” said Altura CEO Jennifer Binkley. “This was an easy decision for us because we know The Cheech will be a place important to our local culture and will contribute so much to our community for many years to come.”
It was announced that later this summer, the City and Riverside Art Museum will be entering into a new MOU that will address the conversion of the library, a management agreement, and new fundraising goals.
The Center for Chicano Art, Culture & Industry will be housed next door to the historic Mission Inn Hotel & Spa at a 61,420-square-foot facility, which was originally opened to the public as the Riverside Public Library in 1964. Organizers hope to open The Cheech to the public in 2020, InlandEmpire.US reported.
A video of the ceremony and Marin’s remarks can be watched here.