President García ratifies law to create Ministry of Culture

President Alan García ratified a law on Wednesday that will create Peru’s first Ministry of Culture, local media reported.

“Ths ministry is an extraordinary work, promoted by committed people. No people can live without culture, so rich as in Peru,” daily El Comercio reported García as saying. He added that it will be an important contribution for national development. Read more…

History of Peru Series Part 3: MONUMENTAL ARCHITECTURE

By Paul Goulder, Special to the Peruvian Times

Across the world, the period 3000 BC to 500 BC (approx.) was an era of monumental architecture. Think Stonehenge (UK), Carnac (France) or the pyramids of Egypt. In the case of Peru the giant structures took on the form of truncated, flat-topped pyramid platforms – sometimes arranged in a U shape. Read more…

Permanent commission in Congress approves legislation for Ministry of Culture

The permanent commission in Peru’s Congress approved legislation on Wednesday that would create a Ministry of Culture, daily El Comercio reported.

The vote was the second by Congress required to approve the legislation, which will now go to President Alan García who has the option to ratify it.

If approved by President García, the ministry would be responsible for creating and evaluating national policies on culture. It would have two deputy ministers to promote cultural heritage and cultural industry on the one hand and the letters and arts on the other. Read more…

HISTORY OF PERU SERIES PART 2: TOUR 3000 BC to 500 AD

By Paul Goulder Special to the Peruvian Times

The second in a series on Peru’s history, incorporating stories from the Peruvian Times archives, as well as links to videos, audio and other external sources to provide a rich background of information. The first article, on the Dawn of Urbanization, was published June 23.

 

The idea of “living history tours” to touch the stones of our ancestors is not new for readers of the Peruvian Times. Dipping into the archives reveals articles written by Peggy Massey (1964) and many others some time back on key early history sites (Huallamarca in this case, which you can read online).

To these sites have been added the more recently investigated Caral and the neglected but monumental Garagay to make up our “first tour.”

A detour to the oldest and largest of Lima’s archaeological sites from the age of “grand monumental architecture” (El Paraíso) is also shown on the map of the “time tour.”

Read more…

Peru recovers 48 pre-Columbian artifacts from Switzerland

Authorities in Switzerland have returned to Peru 48 pre-Columbian artifacts that had been held by a family in the European nation, RPP radio station reported.

The artifacts include a collection of primarily ceramics and textiles dating back to between the 10th-14th centuries, the report said.

The collection, which was handed in voluntarily, belonged to the Chimu and Chancay cultures, which were located in northern and central Peru, respectively.

The individual who handed in the artifacts said the textiles and ceramics were brought to Switzerland in the 1930’s when the person’s father traveled to Peru.

Peruvian pre-Hispanic hand woven fabrics, ceramics, and metal artwork are among other items found on the International Council of Museums (ICM) Red List of Peruvian cultural objects at risk.

Despite international and national legislation, illicit trafficking of and illegal excavations of Peruvian archeological sites, as well as theft at museums and churches are common, the ICM says.

Congress votes in favor of creating Ministry of Culture

Peru’s congress voted in favor of creating a Ministry of Culture on Wednesday, daily El Comercio reported.

The vote 65-6 vote, with 16 abstentions, will require a second vote by lawmakers to ratify the creation of the ministry, which is expected to happen in seven days, according the El Comercio.

One of the functions of the ministry would be to provide sponsorship for cultural activities, Congresswoman Luciana León of President Alan García’s ruling Aprista party said.

“The sponsorship will allow the ministry to have real policy for action, production and carrying out cultural activities,” León said.

“With the approval of this law, if the greatest benefit is for the artists, I think that in the end the winner is the country because we need to reinforce our national identity. We are a very diverse nation and through the ministry of culture we can unify all of the cultural projects.”

HISTORY OF PERU SERIES PART 1: THE DAWN OF URBANIZATION

The following is the first of a series of articles on Peru’s history, incorporating stories from the Peruvian Times archives, as well as links to videos, audio and other external sources to provide a rich background of information. The first section of this series includes 20 articles, to be published in the coming weeks, beginning with the early history of Lima.  

By Paul Goulder

Special to the Peruvian Times

Together with China, India, Egypt, Iraq and Mesoamerica, Peru forged the “cradles of civilization”, the first recognizably urban areas in world history. The photo below (which, although in colour, seems mainly grey reflecting the desert materials of the site in the early morning light) shows the main pyramid and amphitheater, just one part of the complex of constructions (including six truncated, terraced, pyramid platforms) at Caral in the Norte Chico area some 180 kilometers to the north of Lima. Read more…

U.S. government returns two colonial paintings, pre-Columbian artifacts to Peru

The United States government officially handed back to Peru on Wednesday two colonial paintings worth $48,000, the head of the cultural department at the Peruvian embassy in Washington D.C., Luis Chang, told state news agency Andina.

Chang said one painting is valued at $22,000, while the other is worth $26,000.

The paintings were reportedly discovered by the owner of an art gallery in Richmond, Va., who suspected they were contraband because they did not have proper documentation.

“A Bolivian citizen brought them to the United States in 2003, and when damaged he took them to be restored,” said Chang. “The restorer (suspected the paintings) and told the FBI, which began an investigation and they informed the Peruvian embassy to verify the origin of the paintings as Peruvian.” Read more…

Cusco gives thanks to Pachamama Mother Earth deity to celebrate Machu Picchu reopening

By Andy Dare
www.wanderingbear.info

Cusco (April 1, 2010) — The Empresa Municipal de Festejos del Cusco, staged a fantastic show on the grounds of Qorikancha on Thursday night to mark the reopening of Machu Picchu.

The celebration capped off a day in which more than 1,200 people traveled by train to visit Machu Picchu,  two months after torrential rains and landslides destroyed large portions of the track leading to the 15th century mountaintop citadel.

Seating was prepared for about a thousand people for the show, with many more watching from El Sol Avenue, which was closed to vehicles for the event. Read more…

Why to root against The Milk of Sorrow’s Oscar nomination

By Rick Vecchio

It was with bemused surprise that I saw Claudia Llosa’s “The Milk of Sorrow” nominated the other day in the category of Best Foreign Language Film for the 82nd Academy Awards. But the slow groan of disbelief didn’t really start rumbling in the back of my throat until the  Oscar nod was hailed by Peru’s government as a huge advance for the country’s image in the world.

“This nomination will bring Peruvian destinations into fashion and will be key to boosting tourism in Peru,” declared Peru’s minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Martin Pérez.

A remarkable statement, if you believe, as I do, that “The Milk of Sorrow” does for Peru and Peruvians what John Boorman’s “Deliverance” did for the Appalachians and the mountain people of Georgia. Read more…

Next Page »