Meet Carmela Prudencio of Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carmela Prudencio.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I have always used art and fashion to express myself but it took a long journey to realize it was something I could make a career of. I moved to San Diego from Temecula in 2010 and found myself surrounded by creatives and innovators in the DIY community.

I graduated with a degree in merchandise marketing from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (San Diego Campus) and found my passion for marketing and event coordination. I worked in the surf/skate industry for 5 years which propelled that aforementioned love of throwing events and fundraisers. My first event was a fundraiser for a skate instruction non-profit program and I saw the pieces of who I knew (local skaters and artists) fit together perfectly to make the event a success. I found myself seeking newer opportunities to do just that. I have always wanted to be a museum curator, but it felt out of my league. So, I started curating my own art shows consisting of young, local talent in my network and looking for marketing jobs in Balboa Park. I am so fortunate to have found a home in the Marketing and Communications department of MOPA and in a few different art collectives in the city.

From there, I realized my role in the whole San Diego arts community was to empower my talented peers and connect them with like-minds.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I don’t think I have ever even seen a smooth road in my life! There will always be struggles, but I remain focused on the big picture and my primary objectives. Things have been moving very fast for me and I am always uncovering new exciting groups, events, and individuals in San Diego that it can get overwhelming. When I feel like this, I just know that this community is open-minded and generous if you are willing to put in the work. I feel so much gratitude for each individual I have met in the last couple years and would do anything to help them in their objectives and to elevate our art scene as a museum professional and a former DIY punk kid.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Our mission at the Museum of Photographic Arts is to the inspire, educate, and engage the broadest possible audience through the presentation, collection and preservation of photography, film, and video. Reaching that broadest possible audience is important to me and to MOPA. Accessibility and inclusion in the arts is a crucial big picture goal for the work that I do. I feel like I am the resident millennial at the museum because I specialize in social media coordination or sometimes my coworkers will ask me what the new slang means. Expanding our virtual presence assists us in engaging wider audiences. Through purposeful communication and content creation, we are able to showcase to the world what we do. I am proud of our progressive community conversations, photo talks and workshops which have extended our reach from Sacramento to Tijuana. It truly feels like a workplace culture I can be myself in because the museum holds the same values that I do.

What were you like growing up?
I’ve always been an energetic, talkative, and rebellious person. As a teenager, my mom would think I was in Saturday school, but then would see me on a corner at a protest holding up signs. She’s still supportive of my revolutionary nature 

Contact Info:

• Address: 1649 El Prado
• Website: mopa.org
• Phone: 616-238-8777
• Email: prudencio@mopa.org
• Instagram: MOPASD
• Facebook: MOPASD
• Twitter: MOPASD

Image Credit:
Gary Payne, Stacy Keck, Carmela Prudencio

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