Arturo is a friendly blue and gold macaw, and he has the very important job of being the DMA's mascot! Anytime you see Arturo at the Museum, you'll know there is something fun for kids and families nearby. He is based on a ceramic vessel made by the Moche peoples in Peru more than 1,000 years ago. Arturo is curious, adventurous, spunky, and friendly, and he speaks Spanish and English.
In the summer of 2001, children enrolled in the DMA Summer Art Camps were invited to help choose the Museum's mascot by looking at various animals featured in works of art in the collection. Some of their favorites were a parrot, a jaguar, and a dragon. A wider voting survey was then posted on the DMA's website, asking the public to choose between the parrot (inspired by a Peruvian vessel) and dragon (inspired by a Chinese sculpture).
Once the parrot was declared the winner, it needed a name! During the January 2003 One Hundred Hours festival (when the Museum stayed open for 100 hours straight to celebrate its 100th year), visitors submitted more than 400 suggestions for the mascot's name. DMA staff had the difficult task of narrowing the list down to one and selected the name Arturo.
Arturo made his official debut at the September 2003 Back to School Family Day, and he has been greeting visitors to the DMA ever since.