The Banco de la República Cultural Center in Pereira is an open space for the community of the Eje Cafetero, Colombia’s coffee region, where regional knowledge, art, research, and an interest in reading converge. Through its spaces and services, the cultural center makes available the extensive collection of Banco de la República’s Library Network as well as a children's room, a multipurpose room, and an alternative space for art labs.
Its cultural program is also defined by the services and collections of the library, visual arts, and music sections. At the Cultural Center, the community of Risaralda can enjoy educational and temporary exhibitions such as Imagen Regional. Through on the broad technical and research capacity that characterizes the cultural network of the Banco de la República, the Cultural Center also presents the National Concert Season.
History
The Banco de la República began its activities in Pereira in 1927 with the objective of supporting the growing economic development of the region and stimulating the commercial vocation of the second largest city of the department of Caldas at that time. In 1966, Pereira became the capital of the new department of Risaralda and the central bank continued to develop its activities in compliance with its mission in the flourishing capital.
In 1983, during the presidency of Belisario Betancur, the Banco de la República inaugurated the Luis Carlos González Mejía Cultural Center on the second and third floors of the eight-story building located on Carrera 9 and Calle 18, with spaces for the library, music room, multipurpose room, and the Portón de los Libros fair. In 1986, the Gold Museum of the Quimbaya culture was inaugurated, and in 1989 the Regional Documentation Center opened its doors as well.
With the January 25, 1999, earthquake, it was necessary to evacuate the traditional building and pause certain activities, as well as to order the transfer of the pieces exhibited at the Gold Museum to the city of Bogotá for security reasons.
The Cultural Center moved to rented premises on Avenida 30 de Agosto and Calle 35 in May 1999. There it continued to provide services until July 16, 2007, when it relocated to the reconstructed building at Calle 18 bis # 9-37, outfitted for new library services. These new offices have contributed to energizing urban renewal in the city center, with works that began in 2005 and were officially completed on Monday, September 3, 2007.
The Luis Carlos González Mejía Cultural Center in Pereira, has provided substantial support to the community in recent years, strengthening the bibliographic collection available to users and expanding its services, which today are provided throughout the working day.
