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Unexpected Delays In Guatemala Cause Union Station To Delay Opening Date For MAYA: The Great Jaguar Rises Exhibition

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Producers of the exhibition are working with Guatemalan officials to finalize artifact releases.

Kansas City, MO – April 15, 2022 – Today, Union Station officials announced that due to unexpected circumstances beyond their control, MAYA: The Exhibition – originally scheduled to open at Union Station on May 13th and run through October 25th – will be delayed in opening.  They hope to announce a new opening date within the next few weeks or sooner.

“We’ve received surprising and disappointing news from Museums Partner — creators and producers of the much anticipated MAYA Exhibition,” George Guastello, Union Station president and CEO, shared.  “Specifically, Museums Partner learned the Government of Guatemala has not yet executed the required shipping documentation to release the original artifacts featured in this important presentation of Maya history, culture and contributions. This administrative delay will require Union Station to delay our opening, but hopefully by only a short time as the Station is ready to receive these rare and historically significant artifacts .”

Museums Partner is a highly regarded international producer of touring exhibitions and their leadership is equally disappointed with the unexpected delays in official paperwork.

“We take this situation seriously, as excitement was clearly building for MAYA across a diverse community of Kansas City supporters and guests,” Peter Elsaesser, Museums Partner CEO, shared.  “At the same time, the complexities are many when it comes to curating such a large collection of priceless cultural artifacts.  Deadlines for paperwork from artifact lending institutions — in this case a foreign government — must be met and unfortunately have not.  A delay is disappointing, but in no way diminishes our enthusiasm for presenting this world-class content.  Union Station has been a tremendous professional partner in every respect and is admired worldwide as a prized host of large-scale and important exhibitions.  We are hopeful the last hurdles needed to bring MAYA to the people of Kansas City and beyond will be cleared by the Guatemalan government.”

Significant time and expense has already been invested in preparation for this substantial MAYA exhibition.

“With the closing of our historic Auschwitz exhibition on March 20, our entire team pivoted quickly to transform the gallery specifically for the MAYA exhibit,” Jerry Baber, Union Station executive vice president and COO, said.  “Our timelines were maintained with full confidence MAYA would open on time and to great acclaim.  Our Bank of America Gallery, as well as the entire complex, is ready and waiting for the installation of the Artifacts.  This delay of artifacts is unexpected and very late in the overall timeline.  Regardless, we are working with Museums Partner as they do everything possible to gain the final artifact releases.”

Tickets to MAYA: The Exhibition are still available on Union Station’s website, but have been temporarily paused for the first three original weeks.  As well, those guests who have already purchased tickets for May 13th thru June 2nd are being contacted with options to reschedule or receive a full refund.

“Union Station is vibrant and vital to our community and touring exhibitions are an important part, but not all of our offerings,” Guastello, shared.  “Thinking creatively and acting strategically has been Union Station’s success formula during the entirety of the past two covid-impacted years.  In fact, by focusing on core attractions — led by internationally-awarded Science City — as well as new seasonal offerings, the Station has not only survived but thrived and is on pace to set new records in attendance, new additions and continued stellar guest satisfaction.”

Maya: The Great Jaguar Rises is produced by MuseumsPartner in collaboration with the National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology (MUNAE) and La Ruta Maya Foundation in Guatemala. It is supported by the Ministerio de Cultura y Deportes de Guatemala.

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