OUR HISTORY
Since 1997, the National Museum of Mexican Art has helped create arts and culture programming for youth like printmaking, graffiti, mural painting, audio production, journalism, radio and more.
KEEPING IT WEIRD SINCE 1997. ♥
KEEPING IT WEIRD SINCE 1997. ♥
Yollo History
1997:
The National Museum of Mexican Art started the Yollocalli Youth Museum with the intention to address the educational needs of young people in the Pilsen community. They also hoped to create opportunities for young artists to explore interests and uncover their artistic talents while learning about careers in the arts. Over the years we have grown into a platform where youth can learn from emerging artists, collaborate with them in their art making practices, as well as become active members of Chicago’s growing creative community.
2009:
Yollocalli received the prestigious National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award, a signature initiative of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. This award is the Nation’s highest honor for out-of-school arts and humanities programs that celebrate the creativity of America’s young people. For more information about our recognition and awards, click here:
2011:
Yollocalli became an Arts Partner in Residence of the Chicago Park District at Barrett Park, which unites artists and communities in Chicago’s parks. The field house was converted into a satellite art studio space, helping revitalize the park and increase arts programming in Pilsen. Here we were able to offer artist-in-residence opportunities and jump start our entrepreneurial program, Yollo Lab. For more information about our residency program, click here:
2013:
Yollocalli relocated our main offices and studios to the Little Village neighborhood, partnering with the Little Village Boys and Girls Club. Here, we were able to keep providing arts education programming to youth on the south and west sides of Chicago. We also reintroduced our journalism program (previously known as Radio Arte) through our affiliation with Lumpen Radio. For more information about the history of our radio program, click here:
2014:
Yollocalli teen nights began at the museum. In order to fill a void that exists for young people on the south and west sides, Yollocalli youth began producing free museum teen nights. These events are intended to give teens a safe and engaging evening of art and community by introducing them to the new exhibits (without adults!), youth-led art activities, live performances, and sharing community-centered resources. For more information about our events, click here:
2021:
Yollocalli took over the National Museum of Mexican Art’s Courtyard gallery space. From January to August, there is an annual exhibition of work by our youth artists, including photos, paintings and more! From September to December, guests of the museum can continue their tour of Day of the Dead with artwork designed & curated by the Yollo Youth Council. Featuring original art, photos, and a participatory community ofrenda.
2024:
The museum purchased a decommissioned fire station at 2358 S. Whipple in Little Village. After 13 years of vacancy, we were excited to bring new life to the old building. We worked alongside architects, designers, our youth, and the community to plan and design a new space with everyone in mind.
2025:
Yollocalli said goodbye to our home at the Boys & Girls Club and officially moved in to our new fire station on Whipple. It features four art studios (including a dedicated ceramics studio), hangout lounges, a recording/ DJ booth, & an event space for workshops and community gatherings. For more information on our fire station, click here:
Radio History
1970s and 80s:
Originally “Stereo Joven," WCYC 90.5 FM was a community radio station that broadcast live from the Boys and Girls Club in Little Village. Comprised almost entirely of young Latinx students, they played English and Spanish music, and broadcast 24 hours a day.
1996:
The National Museum of Mexican Art bought the license, moved the operation to Pilsen and began Radio Arte (WRTE 90.5FM). Radio Arte was a youth-operated, community radio station and training program. It provided special courses to youth on writing & journalism, voice training, production skills and on-air training. It became the only Latino-owned, bilingual, youth-run urban community broadcast station in the nation.
Operating under the slogan, “Sounds Inspiring Change” “Sonidos Inspirando el Cambio”, Radio Arte represented the potential of radio when in hands of the community it represents.
The goal was to provide young people with a forum to express their diverse musical preferences, perspectives on issues impacting their community, and personal experiences.
2002:
Jorge Valdivia made history with his talk show, Homofrecuencia, the country’s first Spanish-language radio program to focus on LGBT issues.
2003:
Radio Arte boosted its signal from a mere 8 watts to 73 watts, enough to expand its reach to the southwest side and into adjacent suburbs.
2003:
Radio Arte won the prestigious National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award, a signature initiative of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. Recognized as “the only Latino-owned, community broadcasting station to integrate youth fully as part of its programming while helping them develop their skills as journalists, producers, and administrators in the communications field. It is through this commitment that Radio Arte has become the national training model for youth in the art of media and public radio.”
2004:
The producers of Homofrecuencia sponsored the first annual Queer Prom for Latino youth in Chicago at the National Museum of Mexican Art, creating a critical safe space for young people who had been routinely ostracized from “traditional” high school dances. This event still happens annually at the NMMA.
2012:
Radio Arte broadcasts live from 90.5FM for the last time at the building on 18th & Blue Island in Pilsen.
2013:
Yollocalli & Radio Arte moved to Little Village; into the same Boys and Girls Club that originally housed the radio station and antenna of 90.5FM. Although the station license and antenna were sold, Yollocalli continued to provide media and journalism classes to youth.
2016:
Lumpen Radio debuted its lo-fi station at 105.5 FM (WLPN) out of Co-Prosperity Sphere in Bridgeport, and Yollocalli began broadcasting its youth-led radio show “Wattz Up,” live on Lumpen Radio.
The show also expanded its access, making it available through other platforms, like Soundcloud & podcasts.
2025:
With our move into the fire station, students now have access to a fully equipped recording studio!
Mural History
Since 1997, Yollocalli has been a space for youth to explore their creative interests and thrive as active members of Chicago’s growing creative community. In that time, Yollo has worked with more than 50 lead artists, thousands of youth artists, and we have created over 90 murals spanning the Chicagoland area.
For more information check out our mural map:
You can also find out more in our zine by Sarita Garcia. It provides an insight into some of the murals we’ve created through the voices of the artists who helped create them.
Heading to Pilsen? Use our mural guide and take a tour of some of what we've created around our mothership, the National Museum of Mexican Art, in Pilsen. Enjoy!