“The Long Night of the Museums Summer Edition”, an Encounter with the National Identity

“The Long Night of the Museums Summer Edition”, an Encounter with the National Identity
Santo Domingo, June 23, 2014

This successful event proved that museums are no longer seen as boring places, but as spaces turned into the focus of attention not only of foreign tourists, but also of the local public.

Each edition of “The Long Night of the Museums”, an event of the Ministry of Culture focused on the family, has showed the interest of children, youth, and adults in getting to know the identity of the Dominican people through the main monuments of the Colonial City and other parts of the country.

The summer edition took place this Saturday, June 21st, with its vast and entertaining programming. It demonstrated that museums are no longer seen as boring places, but as spaces turned into the focus of attention not only of foreign tourists, but also of the local public.

Between 9:00 am and 12 midnight, visitors were admitted free of charge to these buildings, to the interesting exhibitions, tastings, living statues, guided visits to appreciate the museum collections, art shows, lectures, plays, etc., which were part of the program developed in the beautiful colonial-type infrastructures, such as the Alcázar de Colón, the Casas Reales Museum, the Ozama Fort, Casa de Teatro, the Trampoline Museum, the Family Museum, the Telecommunication Cultural Center, the Banreservas Cultural Center, and other spaces.

This is a suitable day for the healthy entertainment of the population, and knowledge goes hand in hand with entertainment and safety for everyone present.
The theme of the summer edition of the 2014 Long Night of the Museums was “Dominican dance and music”, a tribute that began with the opening ceremony at the Ozama Fort, which recreated a beach club, where 70s and 80s merengue was the main protagonist.

Deputy Minister of Cultural Heritage, Federico Henríquez Gratereaux, who spoke on behalf of Minister José Antonio Rodríguez, addressed those present at the opening ceremony and stressed the importance of developing ideas such as the Long Night of the Museums; he invited people to continue supporting this initiative, which is featured every season: spring, summer, fall, and winter.

The ceremony was also attended by Juan Tomás García, Deputy Ministry of Creativity and Popular Participation; Nerva Fondeur, Coordinator of the Vice Ministry of Cultural Heritage; Ana María Conde, Director General of the Museums; Claudio Cohén, Coordinator of the Vice Ministry of Decentralization and Territorial Coordination, and the Directors of the various museums participating in the cultural gathering.

In short, the Long Night of the Museums drew an audience made of diverse social classes who enjoyed the jam session by prominent saxophonist Sandy Gabriel, who performed beautiful boleros along with pianist Gustavo Rodríguez.  Likewise, the Bonyé Group got the public dancing at the Ozama Fort to the rhythm of merengue, bachata, salsa, and son.