The Riverside Art Museum (RAM) announced the departure of María Esther Fernández, inaugural Artistic Director of The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture of the Riverside Art Museum (The Cheech), as part of an organizational restructuring.

During her four years at The Cheech, Fernández directed exhibitions and programs that amplified the intellectual power, cultural vitality, and essential contributions of Chicana/o/x art and community. She supported emerging and established curators of shows in the Altura Credit Union Community Gallery and advanced nationally touring exhibitions, including Xican-a.o.x Body, Yolanda M. López: Women’s Work is Never Done, and the critically acclaimed Amalia Mesa-Bains: Archaeology of Memory, which she co-curated. Fernández also co-curated the first Cheech Collects exhibition, which Hyperallergic named one of the “Top 50 Art Exhibitions of 2022,” and organized its three subsequent iterations. Among her most celebrated projects was a long-overdue retrospective of Judithe Hernández’s work.

Fernández supported The Cheech through her community building with artists locally and nationally, and her decades-long expertise in reimagining Chicana/o/x artistic representation in museums. She has been recognized for her curatorial vision and artistic leadership, including being named by the Los Angeles Times as a “Power Player” in its ongoing LA Vanguardia series.

I thank Esther for her commitment to The Cheech and look forward to seeing her future contributions to the field through her continuing curatorial practice. — Cheech Marin, Founding Donor, The Cheech

Esther helped put The Cheech on the map, demonstrating the potential of the museum. Her dedication supported the museum’s profile as a powerful platform for Chicana/o/x art and artists. — Patricia Reynolds, Board President, Riverside Art Museum

I wish the Riverside Art Museum the best as it enters this new chapter. I am proud of my work supporting The Cheech since its opening, and of what we created to showcase the power and vitality of Chicana/o/x art and culture. — María Esther Fernández, inaugural Artistic Director, The Cheech

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) announced today that legendary comedian, actor, and art collector Cheech Marin will receive the 2025 Hispanic Heritage Award for Arts at the Warner Theater in Washington, D.C., on September 4, 2025, and later on the PBS broadcast.
“For over five decades, Cheech Marin has reflected our cultural impact on America and the world as a comedian, actor, director, art collector, and humanitarian,” said Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO, HHF. “His groundbreaking work has not only entertained but enlightened. We are thrilled to pay tribute to Cheech and the other 2025 Honorees and tell their stories to inspire, unite, and mobilize other generations.”

Long known as half of the irreverent and influential comedy duo Cheech & Chong, Marin helped redefine humor and identity in entertainment. Their albums earned multiple gold records and Grammy nominations, including a win for Los Cochinos in 1973, and their films became instant classics, including Cheech & Chong’s Last Movie.

“I’m extremely honored to be receiving this Hispanic Heritage for Arts Award.  I accept this recognition with deep gratitude and a commitment to continue uplifting voices, building bridges, and honoring the legacy of those who came before us.” Cheech Marin, 2025 Hispanic Heritage Awardee.

Marin’s solo career has been equally prolific. He wrote, directed, and starred in Born in East L.A., and has appeared in over 50 films, including Tin Cup, From Dusk Till Dawn, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Desperado, The Perfect Game, Coco, Spy Kids, and more recently, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip, The Long Game, and Shotgun Wedding.

On television, Marin was a beloved fixture in the CBS drama Nash Bridges, and also appeared in Lost, Rob, and Jane the Virgin. His voice has brought life to numerous animated favorites, including The Lion King, Cars, and Oliver & Company.

A passionate advocate for Chicano art, Cheech Marin has developed and curated one of the finest private collections of Chicano works since the mid-1980s. That legacy found a permanent home with the opening of The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture at the Riverside Art Museum in 2022.

Cheech is also the author of the popular children’s book Cheech the School Bus Driver, earning admiration from young readers and families around the world.

The Hispanic Heritage Awards (HHAs) were established by The White House in 1988 to commemorate the creation of Hispanic Heritage Month in America and are recognized as “America’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration” and supported by 40 national, Latino-serving institutions. The HHAs recognize Latino accomplishment, vision, and cultural pride. Watch highlights from last year’s awards HERE & find all past HHAs Honorees HERE.

About the Hispanic Heritage Foundation

The Hispanic Heritage Awards serve as a launch of HHF’s year-round mission focused on education, workforce, societal impact, and leadership.  Visit www.HispanicHeritage.org. Follow HHF on Instagram, Facebook, X, and TikTok.  Listen to the HHF podcast Fritanga on your favorite streaming service and HHF YouTube channel.

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Riverside, CA (June 24, 2025) – The Riverside Art Museum (RAM) Board of Trustees announces the resignation of Executive Director Drew Oberjuerge, effective August 15, 2025, marking a nearly 13½ year tenure at the helm of this long-standing art institution. Under her visionary leadership, the museum has experienced remarkable growth and transformation, notably highlighted by the opening of The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Arts and Culture (The Cheech), solidifying RAM’s role as a vital cultural hub in our community. This significant work culminated in RAM receiving the prestigious 2023 Museum and Library Service National Medal, the highest honor awarded to museums and libraries that exemplify excellence in service to their communities.

“Drew believed in this project from day one,” said Cheech Marin. “She brought the heart, the smarts, and the hustle it took to make The Cheech a reality. I’m deeply grateful for her vision and tenacity—for helping create a lasting home for Chicano art that will inspire generations.”

Throughout her tenure, Oberjuerge, in collaboration with the Board of Trustees and staff, spearheaded numerous initiatives that expanded exhibition offerings, increased community engagement, and significantly enhanced educational programs. Her unwavering commitment to the arts and her ability to inspire both staff and patrons have left an indelible mark on the organization.

“We are deeply grateful for Drew’s dedication and passion for the arts,” said Patricia Reynolds, President of the Riverside Art Museum Board of Trustees. “Her leadership has positioned the Riverside Art Museum as a leading institution in the region, and we wish her all the best in her future endeavors. With the establishment of The Cheech, our expanded art education programs, and vibrant exhibitions at the historic Julia Morgan building and The Cheech, a new executive director will inherit a strong foundation from which to lead us into our next phase of excellence.”

“Drew Oberjuerge has been an outstanding leader for RAM,” Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson said. “She has elevated RAM from an institution that was well respected in the city and region to a powerhouse with a national and international reach. She will leave RAM well positioned for future success, and we are grateful for her service to our community.”

Oberjuerge is leaving to serve as Executive Director of the Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation for Arts and Crafts in Rancho Cucamonga. In this new role, she will collaborate with foundation trustees, staff, and stakeholders to chart a new period of excellence and accessibility for the organization that stewards the historic residence and woodshop of Sam Maloof, one of the most widely recognized artists from Inland Southern California.

“It’s been an honor to serve as the Executive Director of the Riverside Art Museum, working with so many good-hearted people over the years to innovate our institution,” says Oberjuerge. “I know that the future of the Riverside Art Museum, inclusive of The Cheech, is bright! I look forward to taking what I learned at RAM to the Maloof to strengthen another Inland Empire anchor institution to benefit our region’s communities.”

The Board of Trustees has begun the search for a new Executive Director and will soon appoint an Interim Executive Director to manage day-to-day operations until a permanent replacement is selected. The Riverside Art Museum remains committed to its mission of enriching the community through the arts and will continue to thrive in the years to come.