Original article: Centro Experimental Perrera Arte celebra 31 años de resistencia cultural con el evento «Vida para la gana celestial»

Experimental Center Perrera Arte Celebrates 31 Years of Cultural Resilience with «Life for Celestial Joy» Event

With over three decades dedicated to artistic resilience, the Experimental Center Perrera Arte will commemorate its 31st anniversary under the theme «Life for Celestial Joy.»

The event is scheduled for Saturday, October 31, starting at 6:00 PM, at its historic location in Parque de los Reyes s/n (south bank of the Mapocho River, near Bulnes Bridge).

Housed in the former Municipal Dog Pound—a pioneering reinforced concrete structure from 1927 that originally served as the city’s first incinerator for garbage and later as an animal shelter—the space has been rescued from urban neglect by artists who have revitalized it from the ruins.

In 2021, following unanimous approval from the Santiago Municipal Council, the center solidified its community role by adopting a foundation structure and receiving the lease of this 1,250-square-meter building, which was completely restored at no cost to the state.

Throughout its 31 years, focused on heritage restoration, community engagement, and support for creators outside commercial circuits, the center has become a vital gathering place for the community and local residents.

Currently, Perrera attracts artists from various parts of the capital, regions, and even abroad, who participate in creative residencies mentored by Antonio Becerro.

The center has hosted key figures from both national and international culture, including poet Gonzalo Rojas, filmmaker Patricio Guzmán, actress and playwright Rosita Ramírez, and director Raúl Ruiz.

A Citizen and Ancestral Celebration

The celebration will kick off as an ancestral awakening, featuring the rhythms and sounds from the Atacama Desert. It will include a robust crafts and creators’ fair, visual arts exhibitions, performances, and electronic music from artists in Atacama and Europe, spread across the main Nave Pablo de Rokha, the Patio Andrés Pérez, and the Sala Dante, all under the scenography, design, and lighting provided by Antonio Becerro.

The anniversary lineup features exclusive performances by Instrumentista Azteca and DJ-Gelato Ice (from northern Chile), European DJ Tolee, and the stellar guest René Roco in a live set format.

«Celebrating 31 years in a hostile environment, with everything against us, isn’t just an achievement; it’s spectral. It’s about harnessing collective strength and organized labor energy,» says Antonio Becerro, explaining the significance behind this anniversary’s theme.

«We named this celebration ‘Life for Celestial Joy’ as a declaration of principles: a call to unleashed celebration, deep enjoyment, and community vitality above any commercial logic,» the artist elaborates.

«We are not celebrating Halloween as a response to that commercial holiday, but we do engage with our beloved departed, who will surely be with us. This is a citizen festival through the arts. We are not trend followers; we have always focused on the intimate, providing opportunities for others. Our curation embraces diverse artistic virtuosity and disciplines,» Becerro adds.

Event Details and Access

Saturday, October 31.
From 6:00 PM.
Centro Experimental Perrera Arte – Inside Parque Los Reyes s/n (south bank of the Mapocho River, near Bulnes Bridge), Santiago.
Free entry with courtesy invitation (limited to 500 attendees).
Retrieve your courtesy ticket (while supplies last) at:
The National Store: Merced 369.
Fan Club: Av. Providencia 1100, store 21.
Bendito Espacio: Bellavista 0196.
Radio Universidad de Chile (Lost in Space): Miguel Claro 509, Providencia (during office hours).