Yucatán’s cultural scene shifts under new government leadership
Expect to see the Yucatán Symphony Orchestra (OSY) perform free programs featuring Mexican composers at the Parque la Plancha amphitheater. This contrasts with previous programs at the regal Peón Contreras theater, with box-office sales, box seats, and music featuring Brahms and Mozart.
State officials affirmed “unwavering support” for the orchestra. This commitment follows a period of uncertainty for the OSY, which faced potential closure during times of severe budget crises starting around five years ago.
This performance, part of the Otoño Cultural — a “Cultural Autumn” festival — and the Gala Yucateca, marks the beginning of a partnership between Sedeculta and the new park, with plans to utilize this expansive space for future events.
Teatro Peón Contreras revival awaited
The fire-damaged Peón Contreras theater, a beloved landmark and, until recently, a cultural hub, is slowly being restored. The theater building is closed to the public, and restoration progress is generally unknown. However, the new administration has affirmed its commitment to restoring this cherished venue to its former glory.
Shared spaces at the Ateneo Peninsular
The Ateneo de Yucatán MACAY-Fernando García Ponce Museum of Contemporary Art is the Yucatán Peninsula’s only museum dedicated solely to modern art. But it will have much less space to show its abstract and figurative works from Ponce as well as Fernando Castro Pacheco, Gabriel Ramírez, and guest artists.
The federal government announced just short of its 30th anniversary that the MACAY would be reduced to three rooms. INAH, the federal agency that runs Mexico’s archaeological museums, will instead hold exhibits featuring relics uncovered during the Tren Maya excavations. A one-stop will include a bookstore, crafts shop, cafe and a desk to handle construction permits in Mérida’s Historic Monuments Zone.
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