Galpón Víctor Jara

Galpón Víctor Jara (“Víctor Jara Warehouse”) is a cultural center located in Santiago, Chile, in Barrio Brasil, an area of the city known for its strong artistic and cultural scene. Managed by the Víctor Jara Foundation, the center is named for the Chilean singer-songwriter and activist who was killed by the Chilean army following the Chilean coup of 11 September 1973. The Galpón is a popular live venue for Chilean bands, particularly those of the New Chilean Cumbia, gypsy and cueca musical styles, such as Chico Trujillo, Banda Conmoción and La Mano Ajena.

Galpón Víctor Jara
AddressHuérfanos 2146, Barrio Brasil
LocationSantiago, Chile
TypePerforming arts center
Genre(s)New Chilean Cumbia, Cueca
Opened2003
Website
http://www.galponvictorjara.cl/; www.fundacionvictorjara.cl

History

Following the return to democracy in Chile in 1990, efforts to achieve justice and recognition for Víctor Jara slowly gained momentum. In the early 2000s, the Víctor Jara Foundation campaigned to convert the Víctor Jara Stadium, where Jara was tortured and killed (the stadium, originally called Estadio Chile, was renamed to commemorate Jara in 2004), into a cultural center, but encountered difficulties from local authorities.[1] A solution was found in the space occupied by the Foundation itself, in Plaza Brasil, the heart of Barrio Brasil, a cultural hub in the western part of Santiago. Galpón Víctor Jara opened there in 2003. Joan Jara, the Foundation’s founder and Jara’s widow, said at the time that “we want to be a meeting place for all kinds of artists: Chilean, foreign and those alternative artists who don’t fit in anywhere else.”[2]

In 2009, a large public funeral for Víctor Jara was held at the Galpón, with thousands of mourners gathering to honor the singer. Jara’s remains had been exhumed as part of investigations into his death.[3] The casket was carried on a procession through the streets of Santiago and re-buried in the General Cemetery.[4]

The Galpón has been forced to close on a number of occasions. In 2010, the then mayor of Santiago, Pablo Zalaquett, closed the center because it did “not comply with the infrastructure required of a venue holding events of such a nature.”[5] It was reopened shortly after, once the application for a new permit was in process.[6] The venue has also been closed on a few occasions due to complaints about loud noise. This occurred most recently in September 2012, just prior to celebrations for the 80th anniversary of Jara’s birth, and calling a halt to the planned Cumbre Internacional de la Cumbia event (“International Cumbia Summit”).[7] The center was reopened a couple of weeks later with a temporary permit, and Joan Jara remarked that “This has been such a long process. At least there exists the possibility that we can continue to develop this work, which I believe is very important for Chilean artists.”[8]

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See also

References
  1. La complicada historia del Galpón Víctor Jara. La Nación. 30 July 2009. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  2. La complicada historia del Galpón Víctor Jara. La Nación. 30 July 2009. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  3. Chilean singer Jara is exhumed. BBC News. 4 June 2009. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  4. Abiertas las puertas para masiva adios a Víctor Jara. 3 December 2009. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  5. Alcalde de Santiago confirma clausura de Galpón Víctor Jara. La Tercera. 26 October 2010. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  6. Galpón Víctor Jara reabre por el fin de semana e inicia cambio de patente. La Tercera. 27 October 2010. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  7. Víctor Jara cumplirá 80 años y municipalidad clausura Galpón. La Nación. 28 September 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  8. Galpón Víctor Jara consigue permiso temporal para abrir sus puertas nuevamente. La Tercera. 10 October 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  • [www.fundacionvictorjara.cl Víctor Jara Foundation]. (Spanish).

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