Hello, my dear friends, I greet you and hope that you are well and that everything is going well in your lives. This visit that I bring below, I made some time ago to The house of culture of Guanta.

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It turns out that because of my job, I can give trainings in many companies; for example, today I can be in the police and tomorrow I can be in the oil company. That's how versatile my job is. Well, this day my assignment was to give a training for the administrative team of the mayor's office and the space lent was the house of culture "Cacique Toronoima". It should be noted that it bears this name not because the cacique danced or did artistic make-up 🤣 but because he is from the city and it is very interesting how he defended himself from the Spaniards when they came to our land.

It is interesting to know how in a municipality, they are dedicated to have a space dedicated to all the culture and its artists (people who show their different arts), and where tribute is paid to each one of them. It has been functioning since 2021, thanks to a decree of the municipality due to the need to have a space where they can rehearse, store their instruments and be able to put their talents at the service of the community since classes are given in different categories for people interested in the community.

One of the things I liked the most was the establishment of rules. Although it is supposed to be understood that being in a public place and considered a national asset, everyone should behave and take care of the space, and unfortunately that does not happen, they should make their rules clear; I think one of the most important is number 3 because it is even highlighted in yellow, I imagine they can be very good dancers but they should respect the spaces. I also liked that they have to ask for a permit to be able to access the facilities so they can keep track of their activities. 20 points for that! because everything must have order and organisation so that they can take care of the facilities.

What I could see (or photograph) was only part of the first floor, as the halls were closed and due to the rules, I could not enter one without prior authorisation. Its corridors are very clean and tidy, in addition to having some paintings that expanded my knowledge when I learned that culture is not only traditional dance or song, but that there are artistic expressions, also what we call immaterial patrimony of humanity as expressions of a particular celebration and that in conclusion, art contains many things and many ways of showing them:

In the photographs you can see what I said before, that culture does not only include a specific dance but also painting, carpentry, cultural manifestations that come from our indigenous people, llanera music festivals and even a person who is dedicated to exalt all these values, as was Mrs. Alicia Martinez (who was declared cultural heritage) is catalogued as culture for her contribution to maintain the traditions in this municipality. There is also a steel band school, municipal choirs, dancers of all rhythms, composers, songwriters, declamators, galeronistas (typical music of the region), people who collaborate with the carnival, artists who participate in religious activities such as Christmas and the major week that make up more than 400 people training and transmitting their knowledge to other people so that the movement is maintained.

This was the space that was lent to us for the workshop which is the stage where the big events are held in this house. It has stairs, where more people can sit. It is oval in shape (they explained to me that this is for acoustics) and it is very cold, so it is very well conditioned for when the spirits are raised by the dancing in the enclosure 😊. I regret that in some parts it is a bit deteriorated, and I think that with everyone's collaboration and self-management they could have a nicer and cleaner space.

This was the meal offered that day, to culminate the workshop with the promise of returning to those spaces and I can show you a little more of this house where it is at the order to make any event of our great hive #HIVE. 😎.

Hasta una próxima oportunidad

This is the culmination of the presentation of this cultural space which, although it is a little neglected, I would like to emphasise that its staff is very attentive and willing to the proposals that are presented, as well as helping to lend the spaces to those who need them.

The images are my property. I made the cover and the banner in Canvas. The separator was made in Fotojet..

Until next time