Cultural leaders converge at Centro Cultural Taíno Casa del Cordón to shape Dominican heritage

Santo Domingo.- The recently inaugurated Centro Cultural Taíno Casa del Cordón, a flagship project of Banco Popular Dominicano, hosted an influential panel discussion yesterday under the banner “Passion for Culture: Conversation Among Cultural Centers.” The event brought together Dominican Republic’s foremost women in cultural management to explore how museums and cultural hubs can deepen their impact on national identity and community life.

In a packed auditorium, María Amalia León, president of Fundación Eduardo León Jimenes and director of Centro León, joined Altagracia Mella Russo, founder and director of Casa Mella-Russo, and Julia Castillo, head of Centro Cultural Perelló. Moderated by Mónica Gutiérrez Fiallo, director of Museo de las Atarazanas Reales, the discussion ranged from day-to-day challenges—funding shortfalls, digital engagement and conservation demands—to broader questions about the evolving role of cultural institutions in a rapidly changing society.

“As stewards of our collective memory, we must balance innovation with respect for our roots,” León told attendees, emphasizing her museum’s recent outreach programs in rural communities. Mella Russo and Castillo echoed her call for greater collaboration, sharing success stories from neighborhood art workshops and traveling exhibitions that reconnect urban audiences with Taino and colonial heritage.

Senior executives from Grupo Popular and Banco Popular Dominicano underscored their commitment to culture as a pillar of sustainable development. José Mármol, vice president of Corporate Communications and Responsible Banking, and Mariel Bera, vice president of Corporate Relations, praised the Casa del Cordón’s role as both a cultural forum and a catalyst for local economic growth.

Carmen Rita Cordero, director of the Centro Cultural Taíno Casa del Cordón, highlighted the center’s mission to amplify under-represented voices, while cultural advisor José Enrique Delmonte and archaeologist Manuel García Arévalo, president of Fundación García Arévalo, detailed upcoming collaborative research projects and exhibits. Their plans include a digital archive of pre-Columbian artifacts and community-led heritage walks through the Ciudad Colonial.

Among the audience were local archaeologists, artists, grassroots organizers and residents of the historic district, all eager to contribute their perspectives. The energy in the room reflected a shared conviction: that cultural institutions, when properly resourced and networked, can drive not only tourism but also social cohesion and national pride.