Cultural Heritage
The Central Bank of Costa Rica, with the purpose of preserving the nation’s cultural and archaeological heritage, developed its pre-Columbian gold collection between 1950 and 1974. During the same period, it expanded its numismatic collection and began acquiring works by Costa Rican artists. At the beginning, a public gallery was open in the Bank’s main building. However, as the collections grew, a special museum was built to house them.
In order to manage more effectively its cultural work, on 10 November 1993, the Foundation to Administer the Central Bank’s Museums (Fundación para Administrar los Museos del Banco Central) was created through Law No. 7363. Ever since, a qualified multi-disciplinary group of professionals diligently work to offer new and varied exhibitions to visitors. Research work, technical publications, activities, workshops, and public concerts are also offered by the Cultural Center, in its permanent pursuit of excellence through education.
Plaza de la Cultura Project
After several years of efforts led by the Legal Advisory and Administrative divisions, with the support of the Board of Directors, the Presidency, and the Senior Management of the Central Bank of Costa Rica, in 2018, the Costa Rican Government completed the process to donate to the BCCR several land plots where the Plaza de la Cultura project was developed. As a result, the Bank became the sole owner of this property, with full ownership rights, which enables BCCR to manage the relevant legal and administrative matters including the physical and legal consolidation of the assets without any of the constraints faced in the past.
The immovable property donated by the Costa Rican Government includes part of the Plaza de la Cultura esplanade (three facilities next to the National Theatre), the ‘Juan Mora Fernández’ Park, and a lot on 3rd Street, between Fernández Güell and Second Avenues, knowns as the “National Arcades,” a historic and architectural landmark with unique features that will play an important role in the institution’s plans for the continued development of this project.
The Plaza de la Cultura project dates back to 1977, when Law 6025 declared the construction of this space as “of public interest and a national project” and entrusted the Central Bank with the administration and maintenance of the property. However, some of the estate remained under the government’s ownership, limiting the Bank’s ability to manage it from both a legal and administrative perspective.
To address this situation, in 2014, the BCCR Board of Directors resolved to request the Executive Branch to complete the final donation of the property to the Bank. Following the subsequent administrative process, the Government approved the request through Resolution No. 002-2018, dated January 18, 2018. The standard donation and property consolidation procedures were then completed, and the transfer was finalized in June 2018.
With the property now under its ownership, the Central Bank has reaffirmed the original purpose of Plaza de la Cultura: to provide a space for recreation and enjoyment in the capital city, one of great cultural and architectural significance, a landmark for urban tourism, and a place that protects the Museums of the Central Bank’s building and the collections it houses.
