The Dominican Republic's Ministry of Culture, through its General Directorate of Fine Arts, has inaugurated the Semana de Bellas Artes 2026, or Fine Arts Week 2026, a program of training and arts outreach activities running from September 14 to 18 at the Teatro Nacional Eduardo Brito in Santo Domingo.
At the opening ceremony, Marianela Sallent, director general of Fine Arts, said training was part of the development of the Dominican cultural sector. The General Directorate of Fine Arts is the branch of the Ministry of Culture responsible for arts education and cultural programming across the country.
Fifth edition honors Natacha Sánchez
This year's event marks the fifth edition of Fine Arts Week and is dedicated to writer, art critic and cultural manager Natacha Sánchez, in recognition of her contribution to the country's cultural life and her ties to the Teatro Nacional and the Fundación Amigos del Teatro Nacional, a nonprofit organization that supports the theater's cultural activities.
The Teatro Nacional Eduardo Brito, located in Santo Domingo, is the Dominican Republic's leading performing arts venue and home to several of the country's main cultural institutions, including the National Ballet.
Ballet previews new work on Salomé Ureña
As part of the opening day, Pablo Pérez, director of the Ballet Nacional Dominicano, and choreographer Eric Guzmán presented the creative process behind "Salomé: Alma de Patria," a work inspired by the life and legacy of Salomé Ureña. The piece features original music by composer Junior Lomba.
The Ballet Nacional Dominicano is the country's state ballet company, based in Santo Domingo. Ureña was a 19th-century Dominican poet and educator remembered for founding the country's first institution of higher education for women.
Free events continue through Friday
The program continues through Friday, September 18, starting at 7:00 p.m. each evening in the Sala Aída Bonnelly at the Teatro Nacional Eduardo Brito. It includes conferences, talks, educational concerts and artistic demonstrations.
The activities are free and open to the public, with entry on a first-come, first-served basis until the venue reaches capacity.
