Ateneo Puertorriqueño facts for kids
 |
|
<mapframe text="Ateneo Puertorriqueño" width="225" height="225" zoom="13" latitude="18.466278" longitude="-66.109040"> { "type": "Feature", "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [-66.109040, 18.466278] }, "properties": { "title": "Ateneo Puertorriqueño", "description": ".jpg) ", "marker-symbol": "museum", "marker-size": "large", "marker-color": "0050d0" } } </mapframe> |
|
| Nickname | "El Ateneo" (English: "The Athenaeum") |
|---|---|
| Named after | Athenaeum |
| Founded | 30 April 1876 |
| Founders | Manuel de Elzaburu y Vizcarrondo, José Julián Acosta, Alejandro Tapia y Rivera, and Francisco de Paula Acuña y Paniagua |
| Founded at | San Juan City Hall |
| Type | Not-for-profit cultural institution |
| Registration no. | 352044 |
| Purpose | Promote the affirmation and development of the Puerto Rican nationality, as well as engage in cultural, educational and social activities. |
| Headquarters | Puerta de Tierra, Old San Juan, San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Location | |
|
Region
|
Puerto Rico |
|
Official language
|
Spanish |
| Junta de Gobierno del Ateneo Puertorriqueño | |
| Endowment | $466,636.00 (2018) |
| Puerto Rican Athenaeum Ateneo Puertorriqueño |
|
|---|---|
|
|
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Spanish Morisco |
| Groundbreaking | 27 May 1923 |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 2 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Francisco Roldán Arce |
| Other information | |
| Parking | 14 (Disabled: 1) |
The Ateneo Puertorriqueño (which means Puerto Rican Athenaeum) is a very important cultural place in Puerto Rico. It was started on April 30, 1876. Many people call it Puerto Rico's oldest cultural group. However, it is actually the third oldest overall and the second oldest cultural group.
One of its founders was the famous writer Alejandro Tapia y Rivera. The Athenaeum was the first place to give special awards to artists and writers. Some of these included José Gautier Benítez, José de Diego, Francisco Oller, and Lola Rodríguez de Tió.
The Athenaeum works as a museum, a school, a library, and a place for performances. It hosts many contests, talks, and art shows every year. These events highlight Puerto Rican art, books, and music. The Athenaeum's main building is in Puerta de Tierra. This area is next to Old San Juan and has other important buildings too.
Contents
History of the Athenaeum
The Athenaeum began on Sunday, April 30, 1876. The first meeting was held at San Juan City Hall. As mentioned, Alejandro Tapia y Rivera was one of the people who helped start it. The Athenaeum was special because it was the first to honor Puerto Rican artists and writers.
Nilita Vientós Gastón became the first female president of the Athenaeum in 1946. She led the institution until 1961. In 1976, the Athenaeum celebrated its 100th birthday. To mark this big event, they created a special medal. This "Centennial Medal" is given to people who show "the highest national values through Puerto Rican culture." The music group El Gran Combo recently received this award.
The Athenaeum Building
In 1922, an architect named Francisco Roldán Arce was asked to design the building we see today. The first stone of the building was placed on May 27, 1923. The building's style is called Spanish Morisco. This style was brought to Puerto Rico by Pedro Adolfo de Castro. He also designed other buildings nearby. This style uses lots of light and open spaces. It has galleries and balconies that connect the inside with the outside.
The Athenaeum Art Gallery
The Athenaeum is very proud of its art gallery. It has 459 pieces of art. One of the most famous artworks is Francisco Oller's painting from 1890. It is called "La Escuela del Maestro Rafael Cordero."
How to Become a Member
The Athenaeum has different types of members:
- Founders: These were the 48 people who signed up before the Athenaeum officially opened.
- Of Merit: These are people who have helped the Athenaeum a lot.
- Of Number: This is a general membership group.
- Accidentals: These members pay their dues every month.
Special Programs and Chairs
The Puerto Rican Athenaeum has different "chairs" or programs. These programs are led by important people in Puerto Rico's cultural community.
Experimental Theatre of the Athenaeum
The Athenaeum has supported theater for a long time. This started with Alejandro Tapia y Rivera and continued with theater contests since 1911. In 1938, Emilio S. Belaval started the first professional theater groups. The Experimental Theatre of the Puerto Rican Athenaeum began in 1952.
A great Puerto Rican playwright, René Marqués, helped this theater grow. It has put on over 500 plays and held 26 Avant-Garde Theatre Festivals. Many actors and writers from Puerto Rico have been part of these festivals. The Experimental Theatre Hall can hold 200 people. Many famous Puerto Rican plays had their first show here. One of the most well-known is René Marqués's play, La Carreta, which premiered in 1953.
Theatre Festivals
The Theatre Festivals started in the 1970s. Their goal is to show new plays from Puerto Rico and other countries. Between 1973 and 2003, there were 36 festivals. Each festival usually showed about 10 plays. Some special festivals showed even more, like 20 or 26 plays.
Music Chair
The Music Chair was one of the first programs created in the 20th century. It is in charge of the String Quartet of the Athenaeum.
Contemporary Puerto Rican Music Festival
This festival started in 2005. It has been held eight times.
Cinema and Video Chair
The Cinema and Video Chair was created in 1985. It helps develop movies made in Puerto Rico. It also works to find ways to fund the local film industry. So far, it has produced two full-length movies.
The “Decolonization Torch”
A sculptor named José Buscaglia Guillermety created a sculpture called "La Antorcha de Descolonización." This means "The Decolonization Torch." Its purpose is to show Puerto Rico's desire for a non-colonial political status.
The sculpture was first shown on the night of July 24–25, 2007. It stands in front of the Athenaeum Building. It will stay there until the United States helps Puerto Rico solve its status as a territory. The sculpture has the words "Fin a la Colonia" engraved on it, which means "End to the Colony."
Special Memorial Services at the Athenaeum
Many important people have had their memorial services held at the Athenaeum. This is a way to honor their lives and contributions.
- On March 4, 2015, the actor Braulio Castillo was honored. The Athenaeum keeps his film collection and career documents.
- In March 2017, the actress and writer Brunilda García was honored.
- On November 7, 2019, the television astrologer Walter Mercado was honored. The governor of Puerto Rico even declared a day of mourning for him.
- On January 3, 2020, the activist and author Marisa Rosado was honored. She was known for her biography of Carlos Albizu Campos.
- On March 6, 2020, Rafael Cancel Miranda was honored.
See also
In Spanish: Ateneo Puertorriqueño para niños
