Centro Cultural General San Martín
Encyclopedia
The General San Martín Cultural Centre is a cultural centre located in Buenos Aires
, Argentina
near the major thoroughfare Corrientes Avenue
.
It is run by the city government, and hosts diverse cultural and artistic events. Adjacent to the theatre
of the same name inaugurated in 1960 on Corrientes Avenue
, the cultural center was designed by local architect Mario Roberto Álvarez
, and was built between 1962 and 1970.
The center hosted the National Commission on the Disappeared
(CONADEP) in 1984, as well as the first session of the Buenos Aires City Legislature
following the devolution of autonomy to the city in 1996, and an extensive renovation began in 2007. Its annual theatre audiences of nearly 350,000 make it the largest public cultural center nationally, and with similar numbers at the privately-operated Paseo La Plaza
one block west, the 1500 block of Corrientes Avenue is arguably the leading center for the theatre in Latin America.
The cultural centre is named after General José de San Martín
, leader of the Argentine War of Independence
.
The 30000 square metres (35,879.7 sq yd) building is spread over 12 floors and has different rooms for workshops and courses, including the Buenos Aires Audiovisual Nucleus with over 7,000 documentary works. The principal halls are:
At the eastern end of the building there are two small parks– the Plaza de las Américas and the Patio de Esculturas.
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
near the major thoroughfare Corrientes Avenue
Corrientes Avenue
Avenida Corrientes is one of the principal thoroughfares of the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires. The street is intimately tied to the tango and the porteño sense of identity...
.
It is run by the city government, and hosts diverse cultural and artistic events. Adjacent to the theatre
Teatro General San Martín
The Teatro General San Martin is an important public theater in Buenos Aires, located on Corrientes Avenue and adjacent to the cultural center of the same name...
of the same name inaugurated in 1960 on Corrientes Avenue
Corrientes Avenue
Avenida Corrientes is one of the principal thoroughfares of the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires. The street is intimately tied to the tango and the porteño sense of identity...
, the cultural center was designed by local architect Mario Roberto Álvarez
Mario Roberto Álvarez
Mario Roberto Álvarez was a prominent Argentine architect.-Early life:Álvarez was born in Buenos Aires in 1913. He enrolled at the University of Buenos Aires School of Arquitecture in 1932, and graduated with Gold Medal honors in 1936...
, and was built between 1962 and 1970.
The center hosted the National Commission on the Disappeared
Comisión Nacional sobre la Desaparición de Personas
National Commission on the Disappearance of Persons was an Argentine organization created by President Raúl Alfonsín on 15 December 1983, shortly after his inauguration, to investigate the fate of the desaparecidos and other human rights violations performed during the military dictatorship...
(CONADEP) in 1984, as well as the first session of the Buenos Aires City Legislature
Buenos Aires City Legislature
The Buenos Aires City Legislature is a central part of the Government of the City of Buenos Aires, as well as an architectural landmark in the city's Montserrat section.-History:...
following the devolution of autonomy to the city in 1996, and an extensive renovation began in 2007. Its annual theatre audiences of nearly 350,000 make it the largest public cultural center nationally, and with similar numbers at the privately-operated Paseo La Plaza
Paseo La Plaza
Paseo La Plaza is a cultural and commercial complex in the San Nicolás section of Buenos Aires, Argentina.-Overview:Paseo La Plaza was built where the bustling Mercado Modelo once stood. Serving residents in or near the 1600 block of Corrientes Avenue for much of the twentieth century, the ornate...
one block west, the 1500 block of Corrientes Avenue is arguably the leading center for the theatre in Latin America.
The cultural centre is named after General José de San Martín
José de San Martín
José Francisco de San Martín, known simply as Don José de San Martín , was an Argentine general and the prime leader of the southern part of South America's successful struggle for independence from Spain.Born in Yapeyú, Corrientes , he left his mother country at the...
, leader of the Argentine War of Independence
Argentine War of Independence
The Argentine War of Independence was fought from 1810 to 1818 by Argentine patriotic forces under Manuel Belgrano, Juan José Castelli and José de San Martín against royalist forces loyal to the Spanish crown...
.
The 30000 square metres (35,879.7 sq yd) building is spread over 12 floors and has different rooms for workshops and courses, including the Buenos Aires Audiovisual Nucleus with over 7,000 documentary works. The principal halls are:
- Sala Ernesto Bianco - 70 persons, dances
- Sala Enrique Muino - 254 persons, scenic arts
- Sala A/B - 750 persons
- Sala C - 200 persons
- Sala D - 200 persons
- Sala E - 200 persons
- Sala F - 200 persons
- Salón Madres de Plaza de Mayo, 150 persons, for use of Madres de Plaza de Mayo, and others.
At the eastern end of the building there are two small parks– the Plaza de las Américas and the Patio de Esculturas.