Today Pedro Ochoa Palacio took office officially as the new director of the Tijuana Cultural Center (CECUT), where more than 300 distinguished guests that included government officials, cultural personalities from the Mexican art community, and special guests from the U.S. attended the event

The ceremony was held at 12p.m. in the multiple uses hall inside the center, where the new director was presented by the president of the National Council for Culture and the Arts (CONACULTA), Rafael Tovar y de Teresa, and in the presence of Elsa Arnaiz Rosas, who is head of the Tijuana Municipal for Arts and Culture (IMAC), and the Minister of Education for the state of Baja California.

Pedro Ochoa had previously served as an ambassador for culture in the Mexican Consulate in San Diego, where he held that position for 11 years. This will be Ochoa’s second term as the head director for the center (CECUT), which he first headed from 1989-1994.

The new director for the CECUT in his speech at the ceremony noted the importance of the Mexican culture within and outside of the country. He also highlighted that the CECUT is and will continue to be the main headquarters for the arts, music and theater and much more. His vision for the center expands far beyond any border in the world, where the festival like TijuanArte has made a mark and Tijuana’s presence known.

Ochoa also mentioned many plans for the center that includes hosting an international film festival, and strengthen the relationship between the CECUT and the Los Angeles book fair, which will not only continue to enrich the center, but also benefit all of the citizens of this region.

The CECUT first opened its doors on October 20, 1982, and has over a million visitors per year. This touristic attraction has been the main center for the regional arts, and represents one the most important cultural centers northwest of the country. It is located in the Zona Río district of Tijuana, Mexico.

Omar.Martinez@sandiegored.com