Venezuela Opens National Art Gallery and Launches National Reading Plan

Merida, April 28^th 2009 (Venezuelanlaysis.com) - Over the weekend, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez inaugurated the newly constructed headquarters of the National Art Gallery, launched a national Revolutionary Reading Plan, and commemorated the anniversary of the government's Culture Mission, which promotes cultural programming in local communities. Chávez also met with Venezuelan artists and with Italian tenor Andrea Boticelli.

The construction of the National Art Gallery was paralyzed for 20 years, but in 2005, the Chávez government recommenced construction on the 30,000 square meter museum. The gallery has a permanent collection of 7,000 Venezuelan art works spanning four centuries, of which 700 art works are currently on display, as well as pre-Hispanic art.

Elida Salazar, director of the new museum, said, "It's the first museum institution in Latin America of this style and magnitude... this space is evidence of the importance that the government gives to Venezuelan art."

Chávez spoke of the significance of art to people's liberation struggles. "All art is liberating. Anything that claims to be art but represses the people can't be considered art," said the president.

However, "A change in spirit hasn't been achieved yet," Chávez said, motivating the need for the Revolutionary Plan for Reading. This plan will be the "base for the injection of consciousness through reading, with which our revolution will be strengthened even more."

Chávez announced that under this plan, the government will distribute 2.5 million books to develop the communal libraries and said part of the plan was a "rescuing of our true history for our youth." He explained that many standard textbooks do not acknowledge the European imperialist genocide of the indigenous peoples and their resistance.

Specifically, Chavez mentioned Eduardo Galeano's history of Latin America, ‘The Open Veins of Latin America', which Chávez recently gave to US president Barack Obama at the Summit of Americas. He said he would seek permission to print the book on a large scale in Venezuela.

Chávez recommended that people do collective reading and exchange knowledge, mainly through the communal councils and the popular libraries. He called for the communal councils as well as "factory workers, farmers, and neighbors, to form revolutionary reading squadrons, each squadron made up of 10 members." He said one of the tasks of these reading groups would be to have discussions in order to "unmask the psychological war...of the oligarchy."

To mark the anniversary of the Culture Mission, which is also called "Corazón Adentro" or "Heart Within [the community]," there were also circus performances, theatre, music, dance, and distribution of free books in the Poliedro, a large stadium in Caracas, on Saturday.

With 500 cultural promoters from Cuba, and another 500 from Venezuela, the Culture Mission aims to take cultural activities directly into the barrios, providing a range of cultural classes and performances that reaffirm Venezuelan identity and history. So far, the mission has only reached the greater Caracas area, but according to Culture Minister Hector Soto, "we are planning to expand it to eight more states this year."

Chávez met with Italian Tenor Andrea Bocelli as part of his effort to highlight culture this weekend. Bocelli then gave a concert in the Simon Bolivar University accompanied by the Venezuelan Youth Symphonic Orchestra as well as the National Children's Symphony. Bocelli's visit to Venezuela formed part of a world tour.

Soto and Chávez also met with a range of prominent Venezuelan artists including writers, actors, painters, dancers, cinema directors and musicians, who displayed a collection of Venezuelan poetry, talked about the recovery of culture in Venezuelan television, and presented a document from musicians and composers which expressed their desire to rescue Venezuelan folklore and the rich musical diversity of the country, among other things.

Venezuelan artist Saul Herta said that the National Art Gallery needs to go beyond being an exhibition of art. "There has to be interaction between the artists, directors, the Culture Ministry, and the community," he said.

Next April will be the 200^th anniversary of the Venezuelan struggle for independence from Spain. Chávez suggested that Venezuelan artists come up with an "extraordinary plan" to gather Venezuela's historical memory to prepare for the celebration of the anniversary.

"Culture is a priority, even in moments of financial crisis" said Chávez.

Published on Apr 28th 2009 at 9.29am