World Museum announce partnership project to reshape Latin American collections

This exciting partnership between the World Museum and Luma Creations will feature a redisplay of the Nahua Codex, Amoxtli Tezcatlipoca Codex (Codex Fejérváry Mayer), a rare pre-colonial Mexican manuscript and one of fewer than 15 surviving pre-colonial codices from Mexico. 

National Museums Liverpool was one of several successful awardees for the recent round of Esmée Fairbairn Collections Funding, which will facilitate “Cuerpos del Tiempo (Bodies of Time)”, a partnership project with Luma Creations to work with the Latin American communities in the North West with the aim to reshape the interpretation of the Latin American collections at World Museum for display in 2025-26. 

Based in Liverpool, Luma Creations are the leading Latin American and diversity arts and culture organisation in the North of England. Luma will lead on reaching out and engaging these diverse communities through a program of varied events, in addition to assisting the Global Cultures team at World Museum to ensure the stories that communities want to see are represented in their gallery and collections.

Francisco Carrasco, CEO and Creative Director at LUMA Creations said:

“As the leading Latin American arts and culture organisation in the North, we at Luma Creations have a responsibility to aim high and challenge ourselves to create a platform for our local and regional communities, championing and promoting them in the most positive and supportive way possible.

We always aim to push the boundaries and present work that represents the rich diversity of Latin America, continuously respecting the many cultures and identities of the continent.

This fundamentally important collaboration with the World Museum will enable us to reach out, and bring forward the many voices of Latin American communities engaged with the project, enabling us to work alongside the Global Cultures team to ensure that when we re-imagine the exhibition, we change the narrative so there is a real sense of ownership, accompanied with personal stories, understanding and a true sense of being valued and heard.”

This co-produced project will feature a redisplay of the Amoxtli Tezcatlipoca Codex (Codex Fejérváry Mayer) (M12014), meaning “The Book of the Smoking Mirror” in Nahuatl, one of fewer than 15 surviving pre-colonial codices from Mexico and is rarely displayed due to its fragility.

On display at World Museum late 2025, this artefact dating back from before 1521, stands as a powerful symbol of cultural endurance and indigenous heritage.

Meghan Backhouse, Lead Curator of Global Cultures at World Museum said:

“The Global Cultures team is thrilled to be partnering with Luma Creations on Cuerpos del Tiempo. In addition to their deep connections to the diverse Latin American communities of the north west and their vast experience in community engagement using the arts, they have huge enthusiasm for unleashing the stories held within the World Museum collections. And they are not afraid of challenging us, both professionally and institutionally, to see things from different perspectives and work in different ways.

The displays of material cultural heritage from South and Central America are not only out-of-date but lack any sense of the vitality or diversity of the many cultures found in those regions – or in diaspora in the UK. We are so excited to have this opportunity to hand the reigns over, and to highlight more of Liverpool’s incredible cultural diversity.”

This exciting partnership kicks off with a free celebration launch open to all at World Museum on Saturday 15^th February. Expect a lively day filled with inspiring talks, electrifying dance and live music performances, hands-on craft workshops, and opportunities to connect directly with the curators of the Global Collections and the amazing team from Luma Creations.

On Saturday 15^th March visitors can experience a stunning showcase of Indigenous clothing and costume from across all regions of Mexico with ‘Hilvanando Culturas (Weaving Cultures)’. The show will be narrated in Spanish by collector Magaly Flores. Live English translation will be provided by Francisco Carrasco of Luma Creations.

Don’t miss this celebrating culture and community!