Interview With the Minister of Culture and Heritage
- Juan Franciso Carrasco
- Apr 15, 2022
- 4 min read
By Juan Francisco Carrasco
Today we have the honor of interviewing María Elena Machuca, Minister of Culture and Heritage of Ecuador. María Elena is an artist and holds a degree in Human Relations. She was previously Director of the Itchimbía Cultural Center, Director of the Metropolitan Cultural Center, and Executive Director of the City Museums Foundation. María Elena brings years of experience in the arts and if anybody knows about the traditions, art, and culture of Quito, it’s her. We thank Minister María Elena Machuca for sharing her knowledge with us and the expat community in this edition of HiExpat Magazine.
JF: Quito was the first city in Latin America to be declared a Cultural Heritage of Humanity site by UNESCO. Why did Quito receive this recognition?
On September 8, 1987, UNESCO declared Quito a Cultural Heritage of Humanity site for having the best preserved and least altered historic center in Latin America. In addition to this, its status as a living historic center, adequately preserved urban design, and the exceptional value of its space and the conservation of its property heritage have made it stand out among other cities.
