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May 18 to May 29

Eight museums open doors free to general public in Santiago

In honor of the International Day of the Museum, cultural centers across Chile’s capital invite you to exhibitions on human rights, design, and natural history.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011 Category: Museums
The theme for 2011 is “Museo y Memoria” - museum and memory - and the festivities will be hosted app The theme for 2011 is “Museo y Memoria” - museum and memory - and the festivities will be hosted appropriately enough at Santiago’s celebrated Museo de la Memoria.

Eight museums are offering free admission and special exhibits from May 18 to May 29 in Santiago (see map). Take the chance to see what’s new at famous museums like Bellas Artes and popular favorite Museo de la Memoria, as well as to explore lesser-known gems like the Museo de Educación Gabriela Mistral.

 

The theme for 2011 is “Museo y Memoria” - museum and memory - and the festivities will be hosted appropriately enough at Santiago’s celebrated Museo de la Memoria. The museum is always free, but between the hours of 6 pm and 9 pm, visitors can take a special tour, and will receive a postcard of handwork made at detention centers after the military coup in 1973.

 

On May 26, Santiago’s fine arts museum, the Museo Bellas Artes, is unveiling a new educative room designed for children, featuring virtual puzzles of the collection’s most famous pieces. Grown-ups are also invited to interact with the classical art collection, in exhibitions featuring art-analysis software, and a  computer program that lets you create your own virtual exhibitions, after learning a few tips from museum curators.

 

Other museums that you can visit for free in the next 11 days: Museo Histórico Nacional, which will present three new exhibitions featuring important events in national history; education museum Museo de Educación Gabriela Mistral; the natural history museum, Museo de Historial Natural; and the Museo Benjamín Vicuña Mackenna, which will feature paintings and manuscripts of the capital’s historic mayor. Venture across the Mapocho River to visit the design museum Museo de Artes Decorativas and nearby Histórico Dominico in the colorful Recoleta neighborhood.