Cartagena For Artists

There are many national and foreigners artists who have found in the city of Cartagena (Colombia), a motivation and an inspiration for developing art pieces, composing songs, or writing novels. Anyhow, the “Corralito de Piedra”, as it is known this colonial city, has been an ideal place for Bohemians, artists, writers, composers and filmmakers.

There are many reasons why Cartagena is chosen by these artists, but the main reason is the story of the colonization of the city, combine with its architecture and its tropical climate. Anyone with an art vocation, could come and experience being in one of the old balconies of the colonial buildings in the city and find inspiration to write a new verse, some original copla or choose a colorful Caribbean landscape to place on a canvas.

Besides, Cartagena is currently one of the most important cultural centers in Latin America. There are many important artistic events that take place there, like the international Cartagena Film Festival, a film competition with the participation of important directors of the seventh art from the 5 continents.

Cartagena is also the host city of the “Hay Festival”, where literature, Visual Arts, film, music and journalism, are the order of the day. This event involves national and international cultural institutions, agencies and private companies, local and abroad, maximizing the impact of the Festival for the local population.

Cartagena as well gathers important strictly cultural centers such as the Gold Museum, the Museum of Modern arts of Cartagena and the House Museum Rafael Núñez, among others.

Moreover, there is the Adolfo Mejía Heredia Theatre, main stage of the city, which was built in 1911 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the independence of Cartagena. Its architecture was in charge of Don Felipe Jaspe, inspired by the Tacón theater of Havana, Cuba, built in the shape of a horseshoe with boxes and divided balconies.

Examples of artists who have taken Cartagena as the inspiring city of their artistic works are Luis Carlos Lopez, known for his poem entitled “To my native city”. There is also the popular singer of Caribbean music, Joe Arroyo. Furthermore, even more representative of the culture and politics of Cartagena is writer, poet, former President (politician) and author of the lyrics of the national anthem of Colombia, Rafael Nuñez, and finally, historian and writer Ramón de Zubiría and its successful television show “The past in the present”, which addressed cultural, historical and literary topics.