La Galería Nacional
A space for the arts inside one old prison
By Franco Cartín Brenes

“La Galería Nacional” (The National Gallery) is the biggest artistic gallery in the country. Strategically located halls lodge contemporary and traditional art; framed in the magical and dramatic environment of the Costa Rican Center of Science and Culture (Centro Costarricense de Ciencia y Cultura).

North of the city of San José, on the edge of the Torres River and on a hill that can be observed from most any where in the city, rises what for long time was the Central Prison. After years of dark anguish and sorrow, this space contains within its walls, the Costa Rican Center of Science and Culture. The enormous structure that resembles a medieval castle was built on the year 1909. Today is historical, cultural and architectonic patrimony of Costa Rican people. An endless line of bloody histories of tortures and over crowding of the prisoners lasted more than 70 years. Nevertheless, on December 20th of 1979, the last page of the so called “National Shame” was written. Years later, in 1991, the “Ayúdanos para ayudar” foundation is created with the firm conviction to transform dark past of this jail into a future of light and education...Thus, the night of April27th,1994 is inaugurated the Costa Rican Center of Science and Culture under the premise that “is better to educate the boy, not to punish the man”.

“With the mission of bringing the arts to everyone”, the Galería Nacional opens its spaces to the Costa Rican arts in February of 1994. “Pavilion of the Temporary Exhibitions” originally called, since its creation these fourteen comfortable rooms have been used to host a huge variety of artistic manifestations and have offered shelter to distinguished international artistic contests.

Due to its size and spacey halls it allows holding within great works of art of considerable sizes. The Galería Nacional sample around five exhibitions monthly: about traditional, avantgarde, national and international art.

Simultaneously, to stand out as the base of the main contests of the Costa Rican Plastic and to propose the art to people who normally do not approach a gallery, European, Asian and American countries use it to expose the best examples of their local art.

During June of 2005, the Galería Nacional opens its doors to the work collection that will be exhibited in VI Sample the International of Art that will be take place in the Saint Petersburg, Russia.

In this collection of watercolors works can be observed watercolorists of international reputation such as: Herberth Bolaños, Ena Delcore, Ana Elena Fernández, Dunia Molina and Gisela Stradtmann.

In addition to the Galería Nacional, the Costa Rican Center of Science and Culture is conformed by others varied enclosures for the expression of the arts, education and the healthy games, relaxation and the constant education of the childhood and youth: Museum of the Children: With the motto “the magic of learn playing” inaugurates the most ambitious project of this leisure centre: 39 interactive rooms in which it will be able to find activities, shows and special attractions such as the robots of connote national figures: Astronaut Franklin Chang, scientist Clorito Picado and others.

National Auditorium: Offers a perfect stage for drama and dance, with its modern system of lights and an acoustic shell that holds 526 seats. This architectonic jewel represents the best option of audience of the country. During the year, concerts of classic music, beauty pageants, audiovisual shows and plays appear that contribute to the education and Costa Rican culture.

The Juvenile Complex: This is a space created for younger people (13 to 19 years old); it offers in many ways valuable contributions to sciences, letters, art and technology, but, not putting a side the diversion and the entertainment. In these halls, a good book or a fa­mous artist’s video can be enjoy and alternated with interactive games and the explorations in the “cyberspace”.

A whole new and amazing world just a few block north of the Central Avenue. Open every day. For futher information please contact:
258-4929 or www.museocr.com