Óscar Niemeyer International Cultural Centre

The Óscar Niemeyer International Cultural Centre, by the Brasilian architect Óscar Niemeyer, is being built in Avilés, Asturias, Spain.

Óscar Niemeyer: The Design

This centre will be the first Oscar Niemeyer's work in Spain, and he has said he believes it the most important in Europe [ [http://www.elmundo.es/papel/2007/04/05/cultura/2107112.html Cita "El Mundo"] ] .

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The centre will include [ [http://www.informativos.telecinco.es/wody-allen/preestreno/el-sueno-de-casandra/aviles/dn_49481.htm Description of the Centre and relationship with Woody Allen] ] : an auditorium, exhibitions building, sight-seeing tower and multi-purpose building as well as a large outdoor square, where cultural activities will take place on a regular basis.

Impact in the post-industrial town

Apart from its cultural purposes, the Óscar Niemyer Cultural Centre of Avilés has an important environmental element. It is the central piece of a wide urban regeneration process that will change the whole waterfront of the town. It is going to be located in an island created in Avilés river, not far from the industrial area. This will help in the regeneration process of that area. The authorities are now planning a whole change there, such as eliminating heavy traffic from the port area (where the centre will be located) and creating sport and recreation areas instead. Also a brand new set of projects are being released as a consequence of the "Niemeyer Centre effect". This area is called now, "La Isla de la Innovación" (The Island of the Innovation). [ [http://www.aviles.es/AytoAvilesPortal/portal/cn/NavSec/Documento "La Isla de la Innovación"] ]

Óscar Niemeyer Cultural Centre Foundation

It is hoped the centre will be a magnet for talent, knowledge and creativity.as well as promoting local contents. It will have a strong focus on collaboration with international cultural centres. In December 2007, the Fundation organized the "First Worldwide Forum of International Cultural Centres" in Avilés, Asturias (also known as the "G8 of Culture"): Lincoln Center of New York (USA), Barbican Centre of London(UK), Sydney Opera House, Centre Georges Pompidou of Paris (France), Library of Alexandria, Tokyo International Forum(Japan) and Hong Kong Cultural Center (China) and the Cultural Centre Óscar Niemeyer of Asturias (Spain). [ [http://www.elpais.com/articulo/cultura/Despega/G-8/cultura/elpepucul/20071206elpepicul_1/Tes El País.com, 22/2/2008.] ]

The President of the Fudation is Natalio Grueso.

There is also a Council of Advisers of the International Culural Centre Óscar Niemeyer. Some of the members are Stephen Hawking, Vinton Cerf, Woody Allen, Paulo Coelho, ...

The Niemeyer Centre will also collaborate with the London School of Economics, the Instituto Cervantes, the Old Vic theatre of London (currently directed by Kevin Spacey) María Cristina Masaveu Fundation, Spanish Ministry of Culture and with exhibitions exchange with CaixaForum (La Caixa).

Activities of the Óscar Niemeyer Cultural Centre Centre

* -Premiere of de "El sueño de Casandra" directed by Woody Allen
* -Future colaboration with the Old Vic Theatre of Londres [ [http://actualidad.terra.es/cultura/articulo/niemeyer_old_vic_kevin_spacey_2379600.htm Terra Noticias] ]
* - 20th Anniversary of "The Alchemist (novel)" by Paulo Coelho in the Palacio Valdés Theatre. The event was also transmited by the Internet [ [http://paulocoelhoblog.com/ Blog de Paulo Coelho] ] .
* - Fatima Mernissi, June 2008, Avilés.

External links

* [http://www.niemeyercenter.org/ Official Site]
* Óscar Niemeyer, Architect
* [http://www.ayto-aviles.es Avilés Council Website]
* [http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=b6debfb92b2859df41a991b3e3f28d09 El Centro Niemeyer en Google Earth]
* [http://www.aviles.es:8003/html/video-islainnovacion.html "The Island of the Innovation" (Video in Spanish)]
* [http://www.aviles.es/AytoAvilesPortal/portal/cn/NavSec/Documento La isla de la Innovación (text in Spanish)]
* [http://www.oldvictheatre.com/ The Old Vic Theatre, Londres]
* [http://www.lse.ac.uk/ London School of Economics]

References

Sources

* http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centro_Niemeyer