“José Martí” Cultural Center re-opens its doors in García Ginerés

After eight months of work, the “José Martí” Cultural Center reopened its doors on Tuesday Feb. 27, with remodeled facilities and a variety of activities that will allow local art and culture to continue its promotion in Mérida in functional and high-quality cultural spaces.

The building, considered a cultural icon, attracts not only the residents of the García Ginerés neighborhood, where it is located, but artists who seek to share their local work, young people, children eager to read and entire families who come together to enjoy the activities offered throughout the week.

The first to use the facilities were students from the invited schools Abelardo Trujillo and the José Martí Institute: while some were reading comfortably in the reading room, others tried the new computers, another group admired, with the help of a tablet, the art exhibition animated by artist Nessun Dorma (using augmented reality) and the most curious ones, browsed through the shelves of the library in search of their favorite book, reports the Directorate of Culture of the City.

The director of Culture, Felipe Ahumada Vasconcelos, recalled that the remodeling of the José Martí Cultural Center was already a heartfelt demand and now re-opens its doors with facilities more suited to the demands of users and with programs and activities to enjoy with the family.

“Each month the space receives an average of 500 visitors, a figure that we seek to increase with these quality services”, Ahumada Vasconcelos said.

The official explained that the “José Martí Cultural Center” adds to other public spaces such as the Cultural Center of the South, which will be inaugurated soon in the heart of the Emiliano Zapata Sur neighborhood, the Centro Cultural Olimpo, the City Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Historical Municipal Archive and the Municipal Dance Center that all together speak of the cultural and artistic spirit of Mérida, where the Charter of Cultural Rights has transformed, not only these precincts but the streets and squares themselves in spaces for the expression of culture.

Among the activities and services offered by the “José Martí” Cultural Center is the children’s reading room, the Library with a specialized section of art books, and reference material for all levels, from primary to professional, as well as 149 titles of the Editorial Fund, both for reading and for sale. There is also a free digital module with computers.

The space presents different collections each month, mainly of local artists, but also receives exhibitions from national and foreign creators. Also, twice a month, the Cinema Forum is offered, with film screenings and for those who like to read under the trees there are reading benches around the building. In addition, on weekends, the cultural center is also home to the workshops Espacio Lúdico y Diverticiencia, which aim to bring children to the different expressions of art through games and science.

The José Martí Cultural Center is located on Colón Avenue on 20th street in the García Ginerés neighborhood. It opens from Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Children’s workshops are held on Saturdays during the morning.

Source: Diario de Yucatán