Meeting: New Constitution and Culture

With the desire to contribute to citizen dialogue through art and culture, the UNA and the Chilean Academy of Fine Arts will hold next Tuesday, November 26, starting at 9:00 a.m. at the GAM, an interdisciplinary meeting to reflect and learn about the constituent process and reflect on the role that culture must play in the new Magna Carta.

Mario Rojas, President of the UNA, indicated that "Given the context of collective agitation due to the clamor of citizens, who demand equity and social justice, it is our duty to inform ourselves and be aware of each step that is taken in this republican and constituent process." “This meeting in the formidable space of the GAM is an immense opportunity to reflect and learn. 

"Culture is a right, and the State is obliged to give it to the entire community," explains Silvia Westermann, President of the Chilean Academy of Fine Arts, another of the convening institutions indicated: "A country without culture is a dead country. We cannot be left out or poorly represented in the New Constitution. I think the meeting will be of great importance, and at the Academy we are proud to be part of this."

The first panel of the day will be led by Jaime Bassa, constitutional lawyer, who will explain the agreement for a new constitution, its implications and the stages of the constituent process; and Claudia Zapata, Doctor in History and academic at the Center for Latin American Cultural Studies of the University of Chile, who will put the historical perspective of this social moment.

The second will feature the participation of sociologist Tomás Peters, doctor in cultural studies; Andrés Young, lawyer expert in cultural legislation; Francisco Brugnoli, visual artist, professor and director of the Museum of Contemporary Art. In addition, there will be representatives of the Cultural Town Halls that have been held. 

The organizers explained that the activity, which will take place next Tuesday the 26th at GAM and is part of GAM's “Alameda Abierta” program, is free of charge but that due to room capacity, spaces are limited, so entry will be on a first-come, first-served basis.