Buenos Aires Art Scene Faces Uncertainty After Macri Election
The election of Mauricio Macri as Argentina's president on December 10, 2015, has introduced uncertainty into the art world that flourished during Cristina Fernández de Kirchner's administration, which made significant cultural investments, such as the $280 million renovation of the CCK – Centro Cultural Kirchner, opened on May 21, 2015. Sophie Calle's opening exhibition attracted 100,000 attendees. The government boosted Conicet's funding from 260 million to 2.9 billion pesos and backed the CAC, featuring works from prominent artists. The 2006 Mecenazgo law encouraged independent art venues. Although initiatives like the Urra residency and arteBA fair (May 24-27) thrived, Macri's political shift raises worries about the art community's future.
Key facts
- Mauricio Macri elected president of Argentina on December 10, 2015, replacing Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.
- CCK – Centro Cultural Kirchner inaugurated May 21, 2015, with $280 million restoration.
- Sophie Calle's show at CCK attracted 100,000 visitors.
- Conicet budget increased from 260 million to 2.9 billion pesos over ten years.
- Mecenazgo law of 2006 provides tax incentives for private cultural patronage.
- La Verdi is a non-profit space run by artist Ana Gallardo in La Boca.
- Central Park studios house artists Milo Lockett, Eduardo Hoffman, and Eugenio Cuttica.
- Clinica format started by Guillermo Kuitca in the 1990s as alternative art education.
- Amalia Pica, Argentine artist based in London, faces local criticism.
- Urra residency program, directed by Melina Berkenwald, started in 2010.
- arteBA fair scheduled for May 24-27, 2016.
- Junta platform formed in 2013 by independent galleries including Argento, Big Sur, Diagonal.
- 2001 economic crisis spurred collective art organization in Buenos Aires.
Entities
Artists
- Mauricio Macri
- Cristina Fernández de Kirchner
- Néstor Kirchner
- Daniel Scioli
- Sophie Calle
- Teresa Parodi
- Ernesto Samper
- Anibal Jozami
- Vik Muniz
- Leandro Erlich
- Bernardí Roig
- Ana Gallardo
- Milo Lockett
- Eduardo Hoffman
- Eugenio Cuttica
- Joaquín Boz
- Donjo León
- Mariana Sissia
- Guillermo Kuitca
- Diana Aisenberg
- Álvaro Cifuentes
- Jorge Macchi
- Diego Bianchi
- Sebastián Vidal Mackinson
- Amalia Pica
- Adrián Villar Rojas
- Andrea Giunta
- Melina Berkenwald
- Julia Converti
- Ruth Benzacar
- Ignacio Liprandi
- Aldo de Sousa
- Benedetta Casini
- Florencia Caiazza
- Ines Katzenstein
- Bruno Dubner
- Luis Hernández Mellizo
Institutions
- CCK – Centro Cultural Kirchner
- UNASUR
- Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero
- Conicet
- Centro de Arte Contemporáneo (CAC)
- Mecenazgo
- La Verdi
- Central Park
- San Crispín
- Big Sur
- MALBA – Museo de Arte Latino Americano de Buenos Aires
- Fundación Proa
- Urra
- Atelier Mondial
- Gasworks
- arteBA
- Art Basel
- Isla Flotante
- Pasto
- Mite
- Ruby
- Ruth Benzacar
- Ignacio Liprandi
- Aldo de Sousa
- Junta
- Argento
- Diagonal
- El Mirador
- Hache
- Holbox
- La Ira de Dios
- Barro
- MUNTREF – Museo de la Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero
- Programa de Artistas de la Universidad Di Tella
- Artribune
Locations
- Argentina
- Buenos Aires
- La Boca
- Recoleta
- Tigre
- Delta del Paraná
- Basilea
- Londres
- Neuquén
- Estados Unidos
- América del Sur
- Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires