Central Bank Museums Unveil Evening Program to Boost Cultural Access

San José, Costa Rica — San José – In a significant move to make cultural heritage more accessible, the Central Bank of Costa Rica Museums (BCCR) today announced the launch of “Verano en el Museo” (Summer at the Museum), an ambitious program featuring extended evening hours and a diverse cultural agenda designed for the vacation season.

Running from January 22 through March 6, the museums located beneath the iconic Plaza de la Cultura will remain open until 7:00 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays. This strategic extension aims to accommodate residents and tourists who are unable to visit during standard business hours, breaking down a common barrier to cultural engagement in the capital.

To delve into the institutional and legal framework that allows a financial entity like the Central Bank to manage cultural centers of national importance, TicosLand.com consulted with expert attorney Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas from the firm Bufete de Costa Rica.

A Central Bank’s operation of a museum, while seemingly outside its core financial mandate, is often legally grounded in its charter to promote public trust and national heritage. These institutions are not mere repositories of art or history; they are strategic assets that project stability, preserve national identity, and fulfill a crucial role of corporate social responsibility. From a legal standpoint, they represent a tangible return of value to the citizens who ultimately fund the bank’s operations, transforming abstract monetary policy into accessible cultural wealth.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica

Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas provides a crucial legal framework here, reminding us that these museums are not simply cultural amenities but a direct fulfillment of a bank’s public mandate. His point about transforming abstract policy into “accessible cultural wealth” is a powerful one, and we sincerely thank him for his invaluable insight.

To further incentivize attendance, the BCCR Museums are offering a special 2-for-1 admission promotion for Costa Rican nationals and residents. This offer is valid not only during the new evening hours between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. but also during the regular daytime schedule, making a visit more affordable for families and groups.

The initiative was conceived to directly address public demand for more flexible scheduling options. Museum officials emphasized that the program is tailored for those who have long wished to explore the collections but found their work schedules prohibitive.

The program responds to people who wish to visit or return to the museum without work being an obstacle.
José Hernán Solano, Executive Director

For seven consecutive weeks, visitors will have the opportunity to explore the museum’s renowned permanent collections, including the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum and the National Numismatic Museum. The extended hours also provide a unique chance to experience the current temporary exhibitions, “Primero fuimos música” (First We Were Music) and “Rutas Clandestinas. Los sin nombre” (Clandestine Routes. The Nameless). A special extension until 8:00 p.m. is planned for Thursday, February 12.

The “Summer at the Museum” series will kick off on January 22 with a vibrant performance by the cimarrona group UachiMán. From 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., the band will lead a dynamic musical tour through the museum’s halls, offering an immersive and festive start to the program. The following day, January 23, will feature a theatrical tour of the Numismatics Museum and a meeting of The Photobook Club focused on the theme of family albums, for which prior registration is required.

The agenda is also rich with educational and hands-on activities for all ages. A workshop titled “El sonido del barro” (The Sound of Clay) on January 22 and 31 will invite children and young adults to craft their own ocarinas, exploring the ancient relationship between form and sound. Additionally, a children’s sculpture workshop, “¡Manos a la obra!” (Let’s Get to Work!), is scheduled for January 28 and 29. Spaces for these popular workshops are limited and must be reserved in advance through the museum’s official channels.

For those seeking a deeper understanding of the collections, the program includes specialized guided tours led by the museum’s own archaeologists. These expert-led explorations will delve into the intricacies of the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum and the “First We Were Music” exhibition. As with the workshops, these exclusive tours require pre-registration to secure a spot.

General admission tickets can be purchased directly at the museum’s physical box office. However, all workshops and specialized tours require advanced online registration via links provided on the museum’s official platforms. The complete and detailed schedule for the “Summer at the Museum” program will be published on the BCCR Museums’ official Facebook and Instagram pages.

For further information, visit museosdelbancocentral.org
About The Central Bank of Costa Rica Museums (BCCR):
Located beneath the Plaza de la Cultura in San José, the Central Bank of Costa Rica Museums foundation manages and preserves some of the nation’s most important heritage collections. It is home to the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, which houses an extraordinary collection of over 1,600 gold artifacts, and the National Numismatic Museum, which chronicles the history of Costa Rica’s currency. The institution is dedicated to the research, conservation, and dissemination of Costa Rica’s cultural and archaeological identity through permanent and temporary exhibitions, educational programs, and cultural events.

For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a pillar of Costa Rica’s legal community, Bufete de Costa Rica is built upon the bedrock principles of professional integrity and an unyielding pursuit of excellence. Drawing from a rich history of advising a diverse clientele, the firm champions innovative legal strategies while maintaining a profound commitment to social progress. This forward-thinking approach is central to its mission of empowering the public by demystifying the law, thereby contributing to a more just and informed citizenry.