Today the building where the National Institute of Performing Arts (INAE) will operate was announced. The Minister of Education, Ricardo Ehrlich, the National Director of Culture, Hugo Achugar, and the MTOP’s National Director of Architecture, Jorge Lima, welcomed the attendees and presented the project alongside Mariana Percovich, Head of Performing Arts.
The INAE will be the first experimental space for performing arts practitioners in Uruguay: theatre, contemporary dance, circus arts, objects and puppets, performative arts and theatrical design.
The INAE will be located at Calle Zabala 1480 esquina 25 de Mayo, at the building where the Banco de Londrés used to operate. Its neoclassical façade –a cultural heritage good– and its vault will be preserved. The portico’s restoration was a joint effort with the National Cultural Heritage Commission.
The facade was restored thanks to the BBVA Bank. Montevideo’s City Council has facilitated agreements between performing arts’ municipal institutions and the INAE.
This new architectural proposal will contrast cultural heritage with contemporary elements.
Some of INAE’s features will be:
• Multifunctional theatre for performers experimentation, lighting, sound and screening equipments.
• Performing arts media library.
• Conference rooms.
• Coffee shop.
• National Direction of Culture’s Performing Arts Area offices.
It will offer:
• Arts program and open calls to use the multifunctional theater for professional training and experimentation.
• National and international seminars cycles.
• Conference cycles.
• Residencies for artists.
• Training for designers and technicians of public theaters and joint projects with Montevideo’s School for Dramatic Arts (EMAD).
The attendants were able to appreciate the building under construction and to get to know in more detail the architectural project of the future INAE.