RIDE Cultural: Vara Blanca, Barva, and Santa Bárbara de Heredia to Experience Art and Culture This Weekend

The RIDE Cultural program of the Ministry of Culture and Youth, an initiative that promotes cultural decentralization and facilitates access to artistic and educational expressions for audiences far from the Greater Metropolitan Area, will arrive this weekend in communities of Heredia: on May 16 in Vara Blanca; on May 17 in Santa Bárbara; and on May 18 in Barva.

Free activities open to the public will take place on May 16 in Vara Blanca, on May 17 in Santa Bárbara, and on May 18 in Barva.
The program includes concerts with Humberto Vargas, performances by the National Dance Company, concerts with the National Bands of San José and Alajuela, workshops, master classes, film screenings, exhibitions, and more.
RIDE Cultural is a program of the Ministry of Culture and Youth that promotes decentralization as well as access to art and culture.
Check the full program details, schedules, and event locations at: ridecultural.cr

The activities will take place on Friday, May 16, in Vara Blanca; Saturday, May 17, in Santa Bárbara; and Sunday, May 18, in Barva. The program will include artistic performances, workshops, exhibitions, master classes, films, and concerts.

This time there will be concerts by Humberto Vargas; the choreography Cartas by the National Dance Company; concerts with the National Bands of San José and Alajuela; as well as performances and workshops with Danza Abierta 4ta Generación and Danza Universitaria UCR.

RIDE Cultural is a program that strengthens cultural identity, encourages interest in culture, promotes recognition of local and national expressions, and fosters social interaction through inclusive, high-quality experiences in safe and accessible spaces.

“For three days, RIDE Cultural will bring institutional artistic proposals and independent group initiatives to the communities of Heredia, for the enjoyment of audiences of all ages; from the youngest, with storytelling activities, to adults, with workshops and concerts. Through RIDE Cultural, the Ministry of Culture and Youth joins efforts from various stakeholders to share art and culture with the Costa Rican community,” said Jorge Rodríguez Vives, Minister of Culture and Youth.

What can we find in the RIDE Cultural Heredia program?

This edition of the program will include workshops, master classes, concerts, exhibitions, films, literature, and even traditional masquerade celebrations.

Below are some of the highlights:

Concerts

RIDE Cultural Heredia will feature concerts by Costa Rican singer-songwriter Humberto Vargas; concerts with the National Band of Alajuela, as well as the brass quintet of the National Band of San José; an opera and piano concert by the National Lyric Company; concerts by the Santa Bárbara Music School; the flute duo of the National Music Institute, and a percussion ensemble concert by UNED.

Performing arts

The National Dance Company (CND) will present Cartas, a series of small-format works under the artistic direction of Karol Marenco, director of the CND.

Additionally, there will be ballet performances of El Corsario and Danza Abierta by Danza Abierta 4ta Generación.

The National Theater Workshop will also offer a storytelling performance.

Workshops

RIDE Cultural will offer numerous workshops, including: The Theatrical Game, Theater and Me, a World to Explore, To Dress Saints, from the Sublime to the Earthly, by the National Theater Workshop.

The Juan Santamaría Historical Cultural Museum will present a Reading Animation workshop; the Casa del Artista School will host a visual arts workshop; the National Symphony Choir will offer a Voice and Movement workshop; the MADC will hold a Sensitivity in Contemporary Art workshop; and the Youth Vice Ministry will lead workshops on employability and mental health, among others.

Additional workshops include: Dance and Self-Listening by Danza Abierta 4ta Generación; popular dance by Danza Universitaria UCR; sculpture by the Barva Sculptural Association; and Swing Criollo by the Barva Dance Academy.

Master classes

On the educational side, RIDE Cultural will offer multiple master classes at its Heredia edition, such as a master class with Humberto Vargas organized by the Ministry of Culture and Youth; violin master classes by the National Music Institute; and percussion, brass, and woodwind master classes by the Band Directorate.

Visual arts

RIDE Cultural Heredia will offer different exhibitions at various venues, including Peace in Costa Rica: Between Reality and Myth by the National Archive of Costa Rica; an opera costume exhibit from The Magic Flute by the National Lyric Company; book displays from the Juan Santamaría Historical Cultural Museum; an outdoor painting exhibition by Pintores al Aire Libre (Pintal); and a sculpture exhibition by the Barva Sculptural Association.

Film, literature, masquerades

To complete the program, there will be screenings of the films Violeta al fin and El baile de la Gacela, organized by the Cinema Center; literature provided by the Bibliobús of the National Library System; an information stand by the Sociocultural Management Directorate of the MCJ; and a traditional cimarrona parade with Los Mantudos in Barva Park.

Check the full program details, schedules, and event locations at: ridecultural.cr

All activities are free and open to the public.