Last Friday, the Mayor’s Office of Valledupar reported through a statement that, in a session of the Cultural Parafiscal Contribution Committee, and after debating and listening to a detailed report on the appeal of the Public Entertainment Law that the municipality of Valledupar, the purchase of the lot of the old Cesar Theater was unanimously approved.
In addition, the holding of a circulation call for the performing arts guild and the acquisition of a trailer equipped with the necessary elements for artistic presentations that will benefit the cultural guild were approved.
In dialogue with EL PILÓN, the head of the Culture Office, Yanelis González, revealed the details of the municipal government project that seeks to convert the old Cesar Theater into a large Center for the Performing Arts and “strengthen cultural processes and directly impact the artists, creators and cultural managers of Valledupar.”
PURCHASE OF THE CESAR THEATER PROPERTY
The lot will be acquired with resources from the Public Entertainment Law. The municipality of Valledupar benefits from this Law through the 10% tax on ticket sales equal to or greater than $141,169 on public shows, with the Vallenata Legend Festival becoming the main contributor, followed by concerts and private events that take place. they carry out during the year in the city.
This law requires compliance with guidelines from the Ministry of Culture such as the creation of the Cultural Parafiscal Contribution Committee for the Performing Arts.
The municipal official explained that to form said committee, the call was made through Decree 00480 of January 31, 2024, which was made up of the mayor of Valledupar, Ernesto Orozco Durán; the Secretary of the Treasury, Lily Mendoza Vargas; the head of the Culture Office, Yanelis González and the representatives: of the Municipal Council of Culture, Jaivis Fernando Andrade; from the performing arts guild, Antonio Sarmiento and from the promoters of public shows, Armando Fernández Medina.
Last Friday, this Committee distributed the resources that correspond to the 2022-2023 periods as follows: approximately $1,000 million for the purchase of the Cesar Theater lot; $300 million for a circulation program for performing arts artists —this circulation program will be aimed at people in the performing arts, music, dance and theater and will be circulating in all townships and neighborhoods; and the acquisition of a mobile stage, for the performing arts, trailer type, equipped with sound, microphones and gates that converts into a large platform.
This is what the old Cesar Theater looks like from inside today. Photo: Supplied.
WHAT WILL THE TEATRO CESAR PERFORMING ARTS CENTER OFFER?
González explained that the municipal government with this Cesar Theater Center points to a great stage for the performing arts where all fields of creation, circulation and production for dance, music and theater would be circulating.
“According to what we are longing for and what the mayor has instructed us, is that there should be several rooms, with advanced technology, the designs will say that later, which allows us to alternate and have events simultaneously in the 3 rooms. This will allow us the circulation of artists and theatrical works, of very high quality, of national and international level,” said the official.
And he added: “That is, a play that is presented at the Colón Theater or at the National Center for the Arts can reach the Cesar Theater in Valledupar. That is what we are aiming for, to have a great Performing Arts Center in the Historic Center.”
WHO WILL BENEFIT
Finally, the head of culture explained that the Cesar Theater will be the center of all cultural makers found in the city of Valledupar and will strengthen all processes in the fields of creation, training, production and circulation of dance, music and theater . “For example, groups like Maderos Tetaro, Chingalé group, Ballet Vallenato, Cesar Philharmonic, Caribbean Music Network, Los Legendarios, to name a few,” said the municipal official.
What comes next is to structure these projects from the Culture office, file them in Mincultura and wait for the entity’s concept on these projects and begin their execution.
By: Jose Alexander Martinez V.