Cultural Center El Austral

Description: The Cultural Center El Austral is named after the valuable contribution made by the local newspaper El Diario Austral. It is located in the former Thater Hoffmann family house, which belonged by inheritance to the families Thater Hoffmann, Martens Hoffmann and Reppich Ellwanger. It was built around 1870 and inhabited until 1980, when it was sold to Agustin Edwards. In 1990 it was acquired by the newspaper publishing society of El Diario Austral, who were in charge of its restoration and empowerment as the Cultural Center, financing also the maintenance and development of cultural activities and varied exhibitions up to date. This Center dates back from 1994, and is furnished in the ninenteenth-century esthetics, featuring French decor with carved wooden panelling,elaborate plaster ceilings and decorative objects.

The remodeling of the house lasted about three months; it was inaugurated in November 1990. An interesting and fine collection of furniture and decorative objects from the late nineteenth century can be seen in the halls of the first floor. It was built by Alberto Thater, who was born in Germany and arrived to Valdivia in 1857; in it you may see the recovery of the cultural heritage, now open to the community, with appropriate restorations and old-time furnitures, where various workshops and exhibitions are held. On the second floor there are rooms where art workshops like painting and music are offered. It is a free museum open to the community, which has constant exhibitions of art, photography, and more, as well as cultural events such as imprints, paintings, ikebana; film art exhibitions, concerts and the famous National Watercolor Art Hall Contest Ricardo Anwandter.