By Josemaría Moreno
For this interview, we sat down with Cristina Solís, director of the El Sindicato Cultural Center, one of the most well-known places of cultural events and social resistance in San Miguel de Allende. Cristina gives us a brief account of the history of this venue and an overview of some of the activities they have prepared for children this summer. The work of El Sindicato, in this sense, is invaluable for the community of San Miguel and represents one of the few bastions still in existence for the people who live and enjoy this city in which, frequently and unfortunately, we are often marginalized because the current trend favors tourism and real estate agencies. It is worth mentioning that the latter would do well to find out about activities like the ones Cristina describes below, since her clientele could find in proposals like this a refuge from commercialized life and an anchor to the community that welcomes them.
JM: Could you share a brief overview of the history of El Sindicato in San Miguel de Allende?
CS: Popularly called El Sindicato, it was the headquarters of the most important union in the local industry during the 20th century: the La Aurora Textile Factory Workers Union. Provided with a large auditorium, this building operated for years as a social, cultural, and recreational center for the working-class families of San Miguel. In 1995, after the final closure of the factory and the disappearance of the guild, the property was rescued by the independent group, El Recreo de San Miguel, A.C., to use it for community use and service, through cultural, educational, and recreational activities aimed mainly at children and young people in our society.
After 27 years of independent and self-managed existence, El Sindicato has become a space of resistance in the center of San Miguel de Allende, surrounded by hotels, international restaurants, shops, and houses for vacations, visits, or rent. El Sindicato remains as a niche for the expression, learning, and recreation of the people of San Miguel.
JM: We know that this year you will carry out the 11th edition of your summer course, “La hora del recreo” (recess time). Could you tell us a little about the focus and the activities you have planned?
CS: “La hora de recreo» is a summer course designed for children from 6 to 12 years old, lasting four weeks. The main focus is the performing and plastic arts. Through playful games and special activities, the participants set up a play with the help of our workshop leaders, which is presented at the end of the course. During this time, the children act, dance, sing, create the script for the play, build the scenery, and design the costumes and characterization of the characters.
For 11 years we have been lucky to have the support of Isabel Castrejón, who is also a ballet teacher at El Sindicato, so we know that she has all the experience and knowledge to work with children. In recent years she has been in charge of coordinating this course, where she incorporates the taste, creativity, and ideas of teachers from El Sindicato, as well as some guest teachers. It seems important to me to mention that we have children who have been part of this summer course every year from the age of 6 to 12. We even had a girl who was over the age limit by one year last year and asked to be enrolled for another year.
JM: How is this summer course related to the San Miguel community, and what do you think is its most positive impact on it?
CS: One of our goals is to be a summer course with a fair cost, which is a true support for working mothers and fathers who, during the holidays, do not have support for the care of their children. The location of El Sindicato contributes so that children who live in Centro or whose parents work in Centro are our main public. Starting last year, we included food and materials in the total price of the course. In terms of food, products of animal origin are not used (to reduce the risks of allergies or poisoning), and we seek to make it as balanced as possible. We believe that including food supports the family so that parents can be sure that their children will be well fed.
In relation to materials, it is essential for us to promote recycling, promoting awareness among minors about the impact of garbage on the environment. Finally, promoting contact with art from an early age is undoubtedly an action that will have repercussions in the medium and long term for our society.
JM: Beyond the summer course, in what other ways does El Sindicato relate to the children and youth of San Miguel?
CS: Initially, much of our annual programming has to do with content for infants and young audiences. We have the constant support of Mónica Hoth, who for decades has worked promoting theater for children, youth, and families.
On the other hand, we want more and more young people to approach art, which is why we designate a specific number of courtesies by function, which are delivered in various schools in the city. Our closest relationship is with the Bicentennial of Independence High School, located in Las Alamedas.
We also work hand in hand with the Coyote Urbano art collective. They carry out various activities related to murals, music, work in neighborhoods and communities. They are part of our support team, and, together with them, we have been able to get closer to neighborhoods such as Los Laureles and Luis Donaldo Colosio, in which we held our «time to give» event, where, thanks to the support of the El Sindicato community, we were able to donate toys and winter clothes.
