Long Night of the Museums in the Spring was attended by hundreds of people

Long Night of the Museums in the Spring was attended by hundreds of people
Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo 3/26/13

This Saturday, March 23, fourteen museums and cultural centerslocatedthroughout the Colonial City, La Romana, Higüey and Santiago, opened their doors to offer the public a varied program with a cutting-edge and magical style. The formal opening of the event was held at the MuseoVirreinalAlcázar de Colón.

Rodríguez offered a brief welcoming speech before giving the floor to the directors of the participating museums, who explained to the public the program they would develop until midnight.

The Minister of Culture led the ceremony, accompanied by Ana MaríaConde, Director General of the Museums; Luis Brea Franco, Coordinator of the Vice Ministry of Cultural Heritage; RaysaAstacio, Director of the Museum Alcázar de Colón; Milagros CaamañoDeñó, Director of the Fortaleza de Santo Domingo; Eva Camilo, Director of the TelecommunicationsCenter; Ana Yee, Director of the Museo de las Casas Reales; Edis Sánchez, Director DINAFOLK;María Elena Ditrén, Director of the Museum of Modern Art; Colonel José Jiménez Pérez, Director of the Museum Casa del Tostado, and Manuel Campora, Director of the Museum Trampolín.

Rodríguez offered a brief welcoming speech before giving the floor to the directors of the participating museums, who explained to the public the program they would develop until midnight.

Starting at nine in the morning, the participating museums began their programs offering children, youth and adults, a cultural selection and toexhibit the rich heritage that make up their permanent displays, according to the museum directors who were present at the formal opening.

This event, which was organized by the Ministry of Culture through its General Directorate of Museums, was set during the Spring, which, together with the experiences related by the directors of the museums, made this Saturday a memorable date for the participating centersand attendees.

The following institutions participated in this pilot project:Centro de Inventario de BienesCulturales(Center for Cultural Property Inventory), MuseoAlcázar de Colón, Fortaleza de Santo Domingo, MuseoAltagraciano, the Regional Archaeological Museum Altos de Chavón (La Romana), the Centro Cultural de España, the National Folklore (DINAFOLK), Centro de la Imagen, the Museum of the Dominican Family, the Telecommunications Cultural Center, the Children’s TrampolínMuseum, Palacio Consistorial and Casa de Teatro.

TheMuseo de las Casas Reales, as was the case with the other 13, opened its doors at nine o’clock. It offered recreational and cultural activities that included aperformance by the children of the Theatre Workshop, a mini zoo -prepared especially for the children-,a presentation via video of The Rite of Spring, a musical work for orchestra, composed by Russian Igor Stravinsky, and in the courtyard of the Real Audiencia, there was a jazz concert presentation.

The Alcázar de Colón museum prepared a program for all tastes and ages, in which one ventures on a journey through the magic of the Spring and masks, as a symbol of discovering the beauty that surrounds the history of the cultural heritage.

Among the activities presented, the Masquerade Ball, a party in which the Columbus family interacts with their guestsin a dance reminiscent of the colonial era, stands out. Also, the children’s activity known as”The garden of ideas,” and a singing spectacle to the rhythm of the times.

In turn, the Regional Archaeological Museum Altos de Chavónscreened the documentary “History and life of Juan Pablo Duarte.” A class for girls on rag dollswas offered, as well asa basket-making class for boys. There was also an exhibition and sale of handmade jewelry, dances and typical Dominican music.

The National Directorate of Folklore developed a program which was,essentially,educational in nature: a workshop by Manuel Felizfor making caps of “mayor de gagá” and queen veils; workshops for future “gagá”; the conference: Habichuela con dulce,” which identifies the Dominican culture. Meanwhile, the Dominican Family Museum presented a model representing a XIX century character, face painting and pericoripiao.

The Telecommunications Cultural Center presented the play “Nekrasov,” bythe BartolaTheatrecompany; children and family films, and workshops for making cards and flowers. Its activities also included a food festival and the exhibition “Duarte Bicentennial.” The Centro León, of Santiago, also participated with a diverse program.