Chilean Science and Culture Ministers to Kick Off Dialogs on Art and Science in ALMA Observatory in Santiago

21 August, 2019 / Read time: 5 minutes

Next Monday, August 26 at 9am, in the Santiago offices of ALMA Observatory, a round table entitled ‘Symmetry: A meeting of astronomy, art and particle physics’ will be held with authorities and artists to identify new challenges, lines of cooperation and shared projects in the areas of science and culture in Chile. The event fits into the framework of Symmetry, an interdisciplinary exchange program of artists and scientists living in Chile and Switzerland. Limited space available.To attend, please contact Parties interested in attending should contact [email protected]

Cross-cutting policies of science and culture, and programs that link creativity and innovation to the global sustainable development agenda, are of increasing interest and importance.

The activity is part of Symmetry, an artistic-scientific exchange program that invites artists from Chile and Switzerland to a shared residency program in some of the most extraordinary scientific research centers in the world. The initiative is organized in conjunction with Arts at CERN, ALMA, ESO, the Chilean Corporation of Video and Electronic Arts, the New Media Area of the Chilean Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The initiative is backed by the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia, as part of its ‘COINCIDENCIA - Switzerland & South America cultural exchange’ program.

The meeting will include the participation of the Culture, Arts and Heritage Chilean Minister, Consuelo Valdés, and the Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation Chilean Minister, Andrés Couve, who participate in the first panel entitled Creativity & Innovation: exploring the link between culture and science. Silvia Rucks, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in Chile, will moderate.

This will be followed by a talk entitled Experiences: dialogs between artists and scientific centers, in which Chilean artist Nicole L’Huillier and Swiss artist Alan Bogana will share the initial results of Symmetry,after having visited the European Laboratory for Particle Physics of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN, based in Geneva),and the ALMA and Paranal astronomical observatories, located in San Pedro de Atacama and Taltal, respectively. Enrique Rivera, Director of the Chilean Corporation of Video and Electronic Arts, and Bárbara Núñez, Press Officer of the European Southern Observatory (ESO), will moderate the panel.

The meeting will also include presentations from Paulina Bocaz, Representative in Chile for Associated Universities Inc., the North American partner of ALMA; Claudio Melo, Representative of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in Chile; María Angélica Vial, Regional Coordinator of the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia; Claudia Uribe, Director of the Regional Bureau for Education for Latin America and the Caribbean (OREALC/UNESCO Santiago) and Representative for Chile; Valeria Foncea, Education and Public Outreach Officer for ALMA, and Simón Pérez Wilson, New Media Area Coordinator of the Chilean Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage.

Additional information

CCHV, the Chilean Corporation of Video and Electronic Arts, has been developing research, productions and exhibits based on the Art-Science connection since 1993. CCHV is the organizer of the Media Arts Biennial of Chile, which will be holding its twenty-fourth edition in 20 spaces in Santiago between September 2019 and January 2020.

ALMA, the Atacama Large Millimeter / submilimeter Arrayis the most powerful radio telescope in the world, located 5,000 meters above sea level, just outside San Pedro de Atacama. ALMA is a partnership of ESO (representing its member states), NSF (U.S.) and NINS (Japan), along with NRC (Canada), MOST and ASIAA (Taiwan), and KASI (Republic of South Korea), in cooperation with the Republic of Chile.

ESO, the European Southern Observatory is a 16-nation intergovernmental research organization for ground-based astronomy. Created in 1962, ESO has provided astronomers with state-of-the-art research facilities and access to the southern sky. Its observatories are located in northern Chile.

CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, is an organization where physicists and engineers research the fundamental structure of the Universe. Established in 2011, Arts at CERN includes art at the vanguard of scientific research and fosters the creation of new knowledge in the arts by extending the practice of artists to fundamental research.

Pro Helvetiais the Swiss Arts Council. Within the framework of “Coincidencia”, its cultural exchange program between South America and Switzerland (2017-2020), it seeks to facilitate access by members of the Swiss art scene to professional platforms in South America, to foster cultural exchange and engage in new associations.

Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage. Its main goal is to collaborate with the President of Chile on the design, formulation and application of policies, planes and programs that contribute to the harmonious and equitable development of culture and heritage throughout Chile. The Ministry is governed by principles of cultural diversity, democracy and participation, cultural recognition of indigenous peoples, respect for the freedom of creation and social value of cultivators and creators, as well as the recognition of territorial cultures, respect for the rights of cultivators and creators, and historical memory.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)seeks to build peace through international cooperation in Education, the Sciences and Culture. UNESCO’s programmes contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals defined in Agenda 2030, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015. UNESCO’s Regional Bureau for Education for Latin America and the Caribbean has its headquarters in Chile, which also serve as the official representation of the organization in Chile.