Oscar Niemeyer Cultural Center

The Centro Niemeyer is an international cultural center in Avilés on the Spanish Atlantic coast. It was designed by the Brazilian star architect Oscar Niemeyer . The "Centro Niemeyer" is financed and supported by the "International Cultural Center Oscar Niemeyer Principality of Asturias Foundation" ( Fundation Centro Cultural International Oscar Niemeyer Principado de Asturias ), which in turn is supported on the one hand by the autonomous regional government of the Asturias region and on the other hand by the Spanish Central government funded by Madrid . The center is intended to give the region, which has been badly affected by the structural change of the past decades, a new upswing. The center is the first and largest measure to revitalize the city of Avilés and is located on the newly established "Island of Innovation" on the right bank of the Avilés river of the same name, which flows into the Atlantic here. The Centro Niemeyer 'was opened on March 26, 2011 after a three-year construction period and, at the request of the architect Oscar Niemeyer, should: “Be open to everyone and devote yourself to culture, education and peace”.

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Panorama Oscar Niemeyer cultural center

Oscar Niemeyer: the draft

When Oscar Niemeyer was awarded the Prince of Asturias Prize for Art in 1989 , it was the beginning of a long-term cooperation between Asturias and the world-famous architect. When all the winners of the past 25 years were approached in 2006 for a special award and gesture for the anniversary, Oscar Niemeyer gave Asturias his design for a cultural center with the words: “I am an architect and can therefore design buildings, which is why I do is: drawing a building. ”The center is Oscar Niemeyer's first project in Spain and he himself considers it to be his most important project in Europe.

The construction of the cultural center

Centro Niemeyer in Avilés during construction

The Centro Niemeyer consists of four units: a concert hall, an exhibition building, an observation tower and a multi-purpose building. The ensemble is summarized by a large square. Cultural events are also to take place here on a regular basis.

Significance for the post-industrial city

In addition to its cultural role, the Niemeyer Center in Avilés is intended to perform other important functions for the surrounding area. It is at the center of an extensive urban renewal process that is intended to change the entire waterfront of the city. The cultural center is located on an artificial island in the Avilés River, not far from the industrial area. This is to support the regeneration process of these former industrial wastelands. The authorities are planning a comprehensive redesign there and so the heavy traffic is to be banned from the port area (where the cultural center is located). Instead, sports and leisure opportunities are created. As a result of the so-called Niemeyer cultural center effect, a number of completely new projects were launched. The area is now called La Isla de la Innovación (Island of Innovation).

The foundation of the international Oscar Niemeyer cultural center

Centro Niemeyer - outside view

The cultural center should become a magnet for talent, knowledge and creativity and at the same time promote local concerns. An important focus will be the cooperation with other international cultural centers. In December 2007, the Centro Niemeyer Foundation (Spanish: Foundation Centro Cultural International Oscar Niemeyer Principado de Asturias ) organized the first global forum for international cultural centers in Avilés, Asturias (also known as the G8 of Culture , with the Lincoln Center (New York, USA), the Barbican Center (London, UK), the Sydney Opera House (Australia), the Center Georges Pompidou (Paris, France), the Library of Alexandria (Egypt), the Tokyo International Forum (Japan) and the Hong Kong Cultural Center (China )).

The board of trustees includes (as of November 24, 2011): Ángeles González-Sinde, Minister of Culture; Mercedes Álvarez González, Councilor for Tourism and Culture of the Principality of Asturias, María Fernanda Santiago Bolaños, Director of the Department of Education and Culture in the President's Cabinet, Pilar Varela, Mayor of Avilés, Natalio Grueso, General Director of Centro Niemeyer, Carlos Oscar Niemeyer, Director of the Oscar Niemeyer Foundation (Brazil), etc.

In addition, the Centro Niemeyer has an international expert council, which u. a. Stephen Hawking , Vinton Cerf , Woody Allen , José Andrés and Paulo Coelho .

The Niemeyer Cultural Center also works with the London School of Economics and Political Science , the Instituto Cervantes , the London Old Vic Theater (whose artistic director is currently Kevin Spacey ) and will exchange exhibitions with CaixaForum (La Caixa).

On October 17, 2008 it was announced that the Nigerian writer, poet and playwright Wole Soyinka , who received the 1986 Nobel Prize in Literature , will be working with the Niemeyer Cultural Center.

Film center

The “Film Center” will be a permanent feature of the Niemeyer Cultural Center. It is headed by Woody Allen , who came up with the idea and proposed it to the Asturian Government after several visits to Asturias. Woody Allen publicly supported the cultural center in Avilés, he visited the city. In his first film made in Spain, Vicky Christina Barcelona ( El sueño de Casandra in Spanish ), "some pictures of Avilés can be seen, the premiere of the film took place in the Niemeyer cultural center.

In October 2008 it was announced that the European Film Academy (EFA) would work together with the film center of the Niemeyer Cultural Center.

Activities of the Oscar Niemeyer Cultural Center

Centro Niemeyer - interior view

On March 26, 2011, the Niemeyer Cultural Center opened with an open air concert by Woody Allen and his New Orleans Jazz Band. The cultural center has been organizing a wide range of events with renowned international guests since 2007. These include concerts, dance performances, lectures, discussions with writers and film directors, master classes and exhibitions. They take place in the Teatro Palacio Valdés in Avilés or in other venues in the city. Artists who participated in these events include Yo-Yo Ma , Paco de Lucía , Woody Allen, Sam Mendes , Omar Sharif , Barbara Hendricks, and Paulo Coelho . In 2008 the film Vicky Cristina Barcelona by director Woody Allen was shown here for the first time. In June 2008 Fatima Mernissi was a guest in Avilés. The 20th anniversary of the novel The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho was celebrated at the Teatro Palacio Valdés with an event with the author, which was also shown on the Internet. The cultural center works closely with London's Old Vic Theater.

Conflicts and Difficulties

In October 2011 the cultural activities were stopped. However, the center was still open to visitors.

On November 15, 2011 it was announced that the general opening times of the Centro Niemeyer had been shortened from six days to four days. In addition, the film program was discontinued. Cashiers and other staff were also affected by the cuts. Architect Oscar Niemeyer wrote in a letter to the responsible politicians that he hopes that they will come to an amicable solution and that the cultural center will not have to be closed.

On December 15, 2011 the Centro Niemeyer was closed. A month later it was reopened under a new name. A citizens' initiative used a variety of actions to ensure that the original project can be continued. On June 21, 2012, the center was given its original name back.