25 de Mayo Cultural Center

History

The Cine Teatro 25 de Mayo opened its doors in 1929, driven by neighbors and associations from Villa Urquiza who dreamed of having a grand hall of their own. With over a thousand seats, a stately foyer, and carefully considered decorative details, the “25” was for decades the stage for cinema, theater, and social celebrations in the neighborhood.

In the seventies and eighties, it began to decline, until it closed permanently in 1982. The building was left abandoned and threatened with demolition, but the community organized in assemblies and campaigns to defend it as cultural heritage. This neighborhood mobilization succeeded in having the City declare it of interest and commit to its recovery.

After a restoration process that respected the original appearance and adapted the hall to current technical needs, the building reopened in 2008 as the Centro Cultural 25 de Mayo. Since then it has lit up its marquee again, this time as a public and free space accessible to all.

The CC25 today

The CC25 today offers theater, music, cinema, programming for children, festivals, thematic cycles, workshops, and community projects, combining professional productions with proposals arising from the neighborhood itself.

Its heritage importance

The 25 de Mayo is an example of a neighborhood theater recovered thanks to the struggle of its neighbors and joint work with the City. Its building and its history show how heritage can be preserved and reinterpreted, becoming a cultural center that strengthens the identity of Villa Urquiza and Buenos Aires.

The 25 de Mayo is an example of a neighborhood theater recovered thanks to the joint work between neighbors and the State. Its building and its history show how heritage can be preserved and reinterpreted, becoming a cultural center that strengthens the identity of Villa Urquiza and the City.