Caracas Athenaeum

The Caracas Athenaeum (known in Spanish as the Ateneo de Caracas) is a cultural institution centred on the arts. It is currently located in Macaracuay, after having been in the area of Los Caobos, Caracas, Venezuela. The building hosts two theatre auditoriums, a concert hall, a library, a gallery, a cinema, rehearsal rooms, a café, as well as numerous offices.

The institution was founded on August 8, 1931. The Caracas Athenaeum has always been led by women. The current president, María Teresa Castillo, has been in that position since 1958. The first president was the musician Maria Luisa Escobar. She led the Atheneum from its first headquarters, a residence property of general Vicencio Pérez Soto. In 1942, there was a change of both, president and location. The presidency went to the hands of the actress Anna Julia Rojas. The new location was the place of birth of educator Andrés Bello.

It would not be until 1983 that the Caracas Athenaeum would obtain its current location. This building was designed by Gustavo Legorburu, who won the National Prize of Architecture for it that same year.

Activities of the Athenaeum

  • International Theatre Festival of Caracas - Created by Maria Teresa Castillo and the resident theatre director of the time, Carlos Jiménez. Considered one of the top theatre festivals of the world.
  • Christmas fair - has stands for artisans, silversmiths, antique dealers...
  • Annual painting exhibition - centred on either national or international artists.
  • Viewings of art house cinema.
  • Theatre season, resident company is Rajatabla. Famous productions include Tu País Está Féliz, Señor Presidente, Bolívar, La Muerte de García Lorca and La Charité de Vallejo.

External links

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Alvaro Omar Martinez
12 March 2012
Creada para la expresión creadora, ofrece espacios culturales y eventos especiales cada día en el área artístico y cultural. Antiguamente en Bellas Artes, su nueva sede abrió sus puertas en el 2008.
Julio Saavedra
4 September 2013
Un lugar bonito y tranquilo para venir a ver obras o eventos culturales; También dan talleres de teatro, buenísimos.
Bárbara Méndez
13 August 2017
Tenían las mejores ferias navideñas, pero actualmente es un buen ambiente con espacios al aire libre
Vane
29 August 2014
Tranquilo, excelente vista y clima. Buen lugar para entretenerse un rato
Alejodedor
12 August 2011
Este mes de Agosto 2011 hay maratón de monólogos con buenos actores de TV venesolana los Jueves y Sábados a las 8pm. 8 monólogos,8 actores en 8 minutos
Andres Cordoves
26 March 2015
Sobrevive el ateneo, sobre la colina, Inhiesto, resistiendo el vendaval ora con su cara de tragedia, ora lleno de comedia.
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0.1km from Avenida Libertador, Caracas, Venezuela Get directions
Fri 6:00 AM–9:00 PM
Sat 10:00 AM–1:00 PM
Sun 11:00 AM–6:00 PM
Mon 8:00 AM–9:00 AM
Tue 7:00 AM–6:00 PM
Wed 6:00 AM–8:00 PM

Ateneo de Caracas on Foursquare

Caracas Athenaeum on Facebook

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