Ateneo Puertorriqueño
The Ateneo Puertorriqueño (Puerto Rican Athenaeum) is a cultural institution in Puerto Rico. Founded on April 30, 1876, it has been called Puerto Rico's oldest cultural institution, however, it is actually its third oldest overall and second culturally, after the Bar Association of Puerto Rico and the Casino of Mayagüez.
| Nickname | "El Ateneo" (English: "The Athenaeum") |
|---|---|
| Named after | Athenaeum |
| Founded | 30 April 1876 |
| Founders | Manuel de Elzaburu y Vizcarrondo, José Julián Acosta, Alejandro Tapia y Rivera, and Francisco de Paula Acuña y Paniagua |
| Founded at | San Juan City Hall |
| Type | Not-for-profit cultural institution |
| Registration no. | 352044 |
| Purpose | Promote the affirmation and development of the Puerto Rican nationality, as well as engage in cultural, educational and social activities. |
| Headquarters | Puerta de Tierra, Old San Juan, San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Location |
|
Region | Puerto Rico |
Official language | Spanish |
| Junta de Gobierno del Ateneo Puertorriqueño | |
| Endowment | $466,636.00 (2018) |
| Website | ateneopr |
| Puerto Rican Athenaeum Ateneo Puertorriqueño | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Spanish Morisco |
| Groundbreaking | 27 May 1923 |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 2 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Francisco Roldán Arce |
| Other information | |
| Parking | 14 (Disabled: 1) |
One of its founders was the playwright, Alejandro Tapia y Rivera. The Athenaeum was the first to give accolades and awards to artists and writers such as José Gautier Benítez, José de Diego, Manuel María Sama, Francisco Oller, Manuel Fernández Juncos, Lola Rodríguez de Tió and Luis Lloréns Torres.
The Athenaeum serves as a museum, school, library, and performance hall for the arts in Puerto Rico. It hosts a number of contests, conferences, and exhibits each year, presenting Puerto Rican art, literature, and music. Since 1937 the use of the spaces of the Athenaeum has been limited to activities it sponsors. Its headquarters are located in Puerta de Tierra, adjacent to Old San Juan, in a strip that also houses the "Casa de España", the Carnegie Library, the Capitol complex and the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee headquarters.