Aims and Identity

The City Bicentennial Celebrations aims to enthuse, engage and involve citizens in this collective commemoration through urban, community, sports and cultural activities that will take place in the different neighbourhoods of Buenos Aires city.

Asides from developing our own calendar of events, we intend to coordinate joint activities, ideas and projects with other ministries, NGOs, non-profit organizations, private companies and residents.

We feel the city as a diverse, plural, and representative meeting point that embraces the different communities and organizations that portray Buenos Aires.

We aim to stimulate our citizens physically, intellectually and spiritually regardless of their age, creed, gender or social status through urban activities that make them feel invited and involved.

We propose a reading -and not a review - of our own history in order to encourage the reinforcement of more and better citizenship facing the future. This also aims to recover the drive to create an integrating, cosmopolitan and feasible Buenos Aires for all.

A feasible city integrates, accepts, tolerates and allows; it is meant to be shared, and educates people to co-exist while abiding the law.

The past re-signifies itself as the result of effort, ideas, struggles, education, governments, and our assorted experiences expressed here and now.

Our desire is for neighbors to feel the city as their own, vital and transforming place that enhances their personal skills and civic virtues.

Projects are not only developed by big actions, small gestures also contribute. We have all reached the “meeting point” through different paths and can still recognize ourselves as the leading actors of a common history and destiny.

Amongst other activities, the Bicentennial will be depicted through the work of artists, and technological upgrades to renovate emblematic locations and historical buildings; through reflective conferences, shows, and concerts.

Celebrations began on 24 May, 2009 with a massive concert at the Obelisco and will run through December 2010.