Playa del Carmen Museum Project Stalled, Cultural Council Representative Says

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — A representative of the Citizen Council for Science, Culture and Arts has expressed frustration over the stalled project for the Museum of the City of Playa del Carmen, accusing local cultural authorities of ignoring their proposals.

Daniela Jáuregui said that despite years of independent work and a promise from then-candidate and now Mayor Estefanía Mercado Asencio to move the project forward, it has remained stuck in limbo.

Speaking at the launch of the First International Painting Symposium, which will take place in Puerto Morelos, Jáuregui noted that the event was originally planned for Playa del Carmen but was moved to the neighboring municipality due to the lack of progress.

“Part of the cultural community stepped away from the project because there was no openness or receptivity, not even follow-up,” she said.

Donations from international artists participating in the symposium will now go to the Museum of Puerto Morelos instead.

Jáuregui said the Municipal Institute of Culture and the Arts (IMCAS) in Playa del Carmen simply “left us on read,” using an ironic phrase to describe the lack of response.

She also raised concerns about intellectual property rights, noting that the museum project includes research and thematic scripts developed by biologist Roberto Rojo (nature), city chronicler Raymundo Tineo Celaya (history), and Jáuregui herself (art and culture).

“The Museum of the City project has been encapsulated,” she concluded.