The José Peón Contreras Theater, an architectural jewel from 1904, faces a significant delay in its reopening due to complications in its remodeling, after the fire that destroyed part of its interior and the sound equipment, almost two years ago.
The head of the Ministry of Culture and the Arts (Sedeculta), Loreto Villanueva Trujillo, reported that despite initial expectations, that the theater would be ready for this summer, it will not open on the planned date. She pointed out that there is not even certainty that the facility will reopen its doors before the end of the current administration, on September 30.
She explained that although the theater’s rehabilitation works are advanced and have clear structures to work on in the dome, this requires working with spaces free of seats, which prevents it from being 100% complete so that the public can enjoy the theater and, Therefore, they cannot set a date to reopen the theater.
She insisted that the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), which supervises the rescue, has refused to give a peremptory deadline for the works, due to the complexity.
The head of Sedeculta recalled the case of the Juárez theater, in León, Guanajuato, which has been in rehabilitation for four years and has experienced additional closures; She highlighted the need for time and care in the restoration of historic buildings, such as the Peón Contreras.
She explained that the age of the building, built in 1904, means that as work progresses, new details are discovered that require intervention. These findings force more permits to be processed and increase costs, which has an impact on the delay in the final delivery of the work.
“Each new detail that emerges during the rehabilitation requires careful attention to preserve the integrity of the theater, thus prolonging the process.”
She highlighted that the theater is a cultural and architectural symbol of great importance for the city. Its restoration is crucial not only for the preservation of historical heritage but also for the revitalization of the cultural life of the region. The delays in its opening have generated concern among citizens and the artistic community, who long to enjoy this emblematic space again.
Loreto Villanueva concluded that the incoming administration faces the challenge of balancing the need for a prompt reopening with the importance of careful and thorough rehabilitation.
TYT Newsroom
