After five years of waiting, the International Arts Festival (FIA) is back and more vibrant than ever. From November 8 to 17, Guanacaste, in the context of the 200th anniversary of the Annexation of the Party of Nicoya to Costa Rica, will be the main stage for this much-anticipated cultural event, which promises to delight the audience with a variety of shows and activities.
The program will include over 200 national and international performances, featuring more than 1,500 artists from countries such as Chile, Colombia, the United States, Spain, Canada, Germany, Argentina, China, Honduras, and Ireland, among others.
For the first time, the FIA’s main venue will no longer be San José and will move to Guanacaste.
The Minister of Culture and Youth presented the program at an event held at the Casa del Cuño, Antigua Aduana.
The program is available at: https://fia.cr/
After five years of waiting, the International Arts Festival (FIA) is back and more vibrant than ever. From November 8 to 17, Guanacaste, in the context of the 200th anniversary of the Annexation of the Party of Nicoya to Costa Rica, will be the main stage for this much-anticipated cultural event, which promises to delight the audience with a diversity of shows and activities.
FIA 2024, a production of the Ministry of Culture and Youth (MCJ), through the Center for Artistic and Cultural Production (CPAC), will travel through the 11 cantons of Guanacaste, with four main venues: Nicoya, Santa Cruz, Liberia, and Cañas. Each canton will offer a unique experience, filled with art, culture, and creativity. Additionally, in December, the festival will have a sub-venue in San José, bringing the magic of FIA to the capital of the country from December 1 to 8, 2024.
Extensive Programming
With more than 200 national and international performances, FIA 2024 positions itself as one of the most outstanding cultural events of the year. This edition will feature a wide variety of categories, including:
- With more than 200 national and international performances, FIA 2024 positions itself as one of the most outstanding cultural events of the year. This edition will feature a wide variety of categories, including:
- Music: Concerts of various genres for all tastes, including Alberto Plaza from Chile, Aterciopelados from Colombia, and Alux Nahual from Guatemala, as well as national acts like Sonámbulo and Luis Diego Solórzano with La Solución.
- Dance: Presentations of contemporary and folkloric dance, both national and international, from countries such as Argentina, Germany, Canada, and Panama.
- Theater: A varied selection of Costa Rican theatrical performances, alongside prestigious international companies such as La Candelaria from Colombia and La Zaranda from Spain. Additionally, works from countries such as Germany, Chile, and Central American collectives like La Ruta Centroamericana will be presented.
- Crafts: A showcase of the artisanal richness of Costa Rica and other regions in craft fairs that will be held in the different cantons.
- Visual Arts: Exhibitions of photography, painting, and more, such as “Impressions of Guanacaste, Seri and Xilo itinerants for social themes” by the group Producciones Perro Cerámico, among others.
- Workshops: Spaces for learning various artistic disciplines, such as “Lighting Workshop” and “Communication in Culture” taught by the Chilean Company Astillero Teatro, as well as workshops from Los Pleneros del 21 and Florida State University, and the National Dance Workshop, among others.
- Circus, cinema, and literature will also have a place in different locations featuring offerings from the United States, Ireland, and Chile, as well as national programming.
- Parranderas: Colorful caravans that will fill the streets of the different cantons with life, under an itinerant stage presentation for all ages. Three buses loaded with artists will feature itinerant street performances, touring the interiors of the Guanacaste communities.
“A window to celebrate culture” will be the motto of the FIA for this edition, which will feature the representation of 15 countries, with 31 performances that will delight the audience, both in Guanacaste and San José, in a festival for everyone.
Competitive Funds
In February 2024, the Center for Artistic and Cultural Production (CPAC) announced the opening of project submissions for competitive funds for the programming of national cultural and artistic activities in FIA 2024, in accordance with the Law of Emergency and Cultural Salvage and its Executive Decree. This allows the participation of more than 33 proposals that will be part of the FIA programming, enabling funding for projects aimed at the development of artistic production created by creators, performers, researchers, producers, promoters, and managers.
“The International Arts Festival is an opportunity for us to reconnect; it is a window for us to celebrate all artistic expressions, an opportunity for cinema, theater, dance, music, gastronomy, crafts… All spaces will be reflected there. This is an opportunity that will feature more than 200 performances, and we haven’t had a festival since 2018,” expressed Jorge Rodríguez Vives, head of the Ministry of Culture and Youth.
Sally Molina Villalobos, the new director of CPAC, stated that “this move to Guanacaste represents an important milestone in how we conceive and produce this type of international events, moving the main venue out of the capital. It is a festival that brings us together, offering a window to celebrate culture in every corner, and that celebrates the identity of our region. We could not do this without the inter-institutional alliances that have allowed us to dream big and execute this edition.”
FIA 2024 is not only a gathering of culture, art, and creativity but also a space for unity and collaboration. This grand event invites locals and visitors to immerse themselves in a vibrant cultural experience that would not be possible without the generous contributions of those who believe in the transformative and necessary power of culture. Therefore, we thank the official sponsor of FIA2024, Banco Popular, a strong state financial institution that makes it possible for much of what we plan to become a reality.
Additionally, there is valuable support and backing from the local governments of Guanacaste and San José, the accredited embassies in the country, and the Ministry of Culture and Youth with its decentralized bodies, all coming together to make this cultural celebration an unforgettable success. Furthermore, this edition of FIA has the endorsement of the Esencial Costa Rica event license, as everything is tied to the values that highlight us as a country.
“It is a true honor, as the Bank of the Working People, to be strategic allies of the International Arts Festival. This is an event that has established itself as a fundamental pillar in the promotion of culture and the arts both nationally and internationally, reflecting our commitment as a country to bring quality art, culture, and entertainment to every corner. We are sure that only joint, committed, and supportive work will allow us to generate a significant impact in the cultural field of Costa Rica,” stated Gina Carvajal, General Manager of Banco Popular and Community Development.
Additionally, to complement the extensive 18-day programming between Guanacaste and San José, the FIA 2024 will feature the Hecho Aquí Fair in its traditional location at the Antigua Aduana, as well as the Creative and Cultural Economy Meeting.
Stay tuned for more details and the complete schedule of activities on the social media pages of the Center for Artistic and Cultural Production, the Ministry of Culture and Youth, and on the official website https://fia.cr/.
