Culture and Education in Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is the undisputed focus of Argentina’s cultural life, but its influence extends far beyond the nation’s borders.

It is one of just a handful of cities, including Madrid and Mexico City, that dominate intellectual and artistic life in the Spanish-speaking world.

The city has produced or nurtured many of the most prominent Spanish-language writers of the 20th century, including Jorge Luis Borges, Julio Cortázar, and Manuel Puig.

Buenos Aires has long been one of the primary centers of Spanish-language publishing and printing, and it is home to major publishing companies. It supports the oldest English-language daily newspaper in Latin America, the Buenos Aires Herald, published since 1876.

( Colon Theatre )
The arts have a long, rich history in Buenos Aires. This is manifested in part by the ornate, yet stunningly beautiful and well-designed, Colón Theater on Avenida 9 de Julio.

The Colón opened in 1908 and is renowned for its ballet, opera, and classical music.

The city also has a well-developed theater district, somewhat similar to Broadway in New York, which runs along Avenida Corrientes in the downtown core.

During the 20th century the city also nurtured a vibrant and respectable film industry.

Buenos Aires is the intellectual capital of Argentina and home to the nation’s largest and oldest public university.

( University of Buenos Aires )
The University of Buenos Aires, founded in 1821, has a student body of more than 200,000 and provides a comprehensive university education.

Since the 1960s a range of privately supported universities has been established in the city. The city is also home to the National Library, which has more than 2 million books and manuscripts.

Several annual cultural events in Buenos Aires are worth noting. The city’s book fair occurs during April each year and draws exhibitors from throughout Latin America and other parts of the world. This three-week event draws more than 1 million visitors each year.

The International Livestock and Agricultural Exhibition, held each July, reflects Argentina’s traditional dependence upon agriculture.

The tango and its glorification are the focus of celebrations on December 11, the Day of the Tango, and during the last week in June, which coincides with the anniversary of the death of the city’s most famous tango singer, Carlos Gardel.