Plaza de la Ciudadanía S/N
Open Monday thru Friday, from 10 am to 9 pm.
Info: www.ccplm.cl

A true historical and urban landmark is the new Bicentennial project formed by Santiago’s “Plaza de la Ciudadania” (Citizens’ Square) and the Palacio de La Moneda cultural center, built right under its surface and destined to become the base for the country’s largest and most important art exhibits, as well as a meeting point for Chile and the international artistic and cultural circuit. The center was opened on January 27 with a large exhibit of Mexican Pre-Columbian Art. It is conceived as a space for the connection among citizens, culture and the State. Its symbolic location, somehow represents the extension of the previous opening of La Moneda (closed after September 1973’s coup of State), and a strong confirmation of culture’s importance in today’s Chilean society.

Of the highest patrimonial relevance is the creation, inside the center, of the first National Cineteca, focused on the conservation and promotion of our remarkable cinematographic legacy. At last, our film tradition will be accessible to a wide audience through documentation and movie festivals. The cineteca has a large theater for more than 200 people, and a microtheater for 40.

Architect Cristián Undurraga wanted the building to project itself to the future, maintaining La Moneda’s austere and traditional image. His work looked for an imposing, clean and cutting-edge building, in which its 7800 square yards, all of them underground, get natural light from the square above by way of glass plaques. Past and present go hand in hand with the spectacular opening exhibit “México, del cuerpo al cosmos” (México, from the body to the cosmos), which fills the two main halls. There’s also a Chilean exhibit with the work of contemporary artists that were just chosen to be in the Mercosur Biennial, in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

None other than president Vicente Fox confirmed the starring presence of Mexico in this new cultural exhibit. President Ricardo Lagos also gave a warm welcome to Mexican artist Erick Beltrán, and a special Mexican cinema festival, with classic and contemporary films that inaugurated the use of the Cineteca. This area will be also in charge of a documentation and archives center with the work of audiovisual Chilean artists from the last three decades.

The first level of the building has for now the exhibit of Artesanías de Chile (Chile’s Handcrafts), where visitors can see and buy the best of our handcrafters’ work, made all throughout the country. The center will soon have a cafeteria, restaurant and shop.

There are very moderate prices for the tickets, and a free-pass on Sundays. Visitors can have access to parking space and special services for the handicapped. There’s also the chance of making appointments for guided visits, as a way of integrating as many people as possible to this huge and central cultural space.


Public-private institution
The Palacio de La Moneda cultural center is located in a space specially destined for such goals by president Ricardo Lagos’ administration, and with State funding for its operational costs. The center is managed by a private foundation, which can look for corporate and private resources for its exhibits and activities, and has complete freedom to define its programs and work system, along with a Programming Commission open to the voice of artists, curators, experts and managers. Its role as a mediator between the government and the cultural center should help to guarantee that the management responds to its mission, according to an excellence and quality criteria.