Bogotá’s Teatro Mayor Julio Mario Santo Domingo is celebrating a decade of its social responsibility program – Cien Mil Niños al Mayor. Launched in 2014, this initiative has opened the doors of the performing arts to over 306,550 children and young people from Bogotá’s 20 localities, offering free access to world-class performances. Over the years, Cien Mil Niños al Mayor has evolved into a vital force for cultural education, bringing the magic of the stage to new generations.
The program was conceived to address a simple yet pressing need: provide young people, particularly from underprivileged households, with the opportunity to engage in live artistic performances. By doing so, the initiative fosters a deeper appreciation of the arts regardless of socio economic conditions, and contributes to the inclusive development of young participants.
The scale of its reach is impressive. To date, the program has collaborated with more than 600 educational institutions, enabling thousands of students to attend 291 performances, representing 75 artistic productions from Colombia and across the world. This initiative has grown from modest beginnings into a cultural lifeline for Bogotá’s youth, offering not only exposure to the arts but a comprehensive educational experience.
At the heart of Cien Mil Niños al Mayor lies the belief that exposure to the arts can transform lives. By offering free access to performances, the program hopes to unlock the creative potential within each child. “We want children to discover the languages of creation,” emphasizes the Theatre, adding that art is not just a recreational pastime, but a tool for learning and self-expression.
The program’s success has largely been driven by its commitment to accessibility. Transportation logistics are carefully planned to ensure students from Bogotá’s most distant localities can attend performances without a financial cost for parents. For many of these children, the journey to the theater, on one of the 34 buses deployed for each event, is as much a part of the adventure as the performance itself.
Once they arrive at the Teatro Mayor, they are treated to a sensory-rich experience. The lights dim, the curtain rises, and the children are drawn into worlds of imagination and wonder. Whether it’s a captivating puppet show from Russia’s Obraztsov Puppet Theatre or a dynamic dance performance by Colombia’s own Cortocinesis, each event is crafted to inspire and engage. The response from the audience is often electric, with cheers and applause echoing through the hall as the performances unfold.
The COVID-19 pandemic presented a significant challenge to the program, as live performances worldwide came to a halt. Yet, even during this difficult period, Cien Mil Niños al Mayor found a way to maintain its connection with young audiences. Partnering with Eureka, a children’s TV channel in Bogotá, the program broadcast 49 virtual performances in 2021 and 2022 to youngsters at home under the initiative titled: Cien Mil Niños al Mayor En Casa.
Despite the limitations of screen-based performances, the essence of the program – offering cultural enrichment to children – remained intact. Virtual performances featured the same high-caliber artists and continued to be accompanied by educational materials, which teachers used to prepare students for the shows and to engage them in discussions afterward. This approach ensured that even in the absence of in-person interaction, children could still enjoy the magic of theater from their homes.
Puppet with a purpose
In addition to live and virtual shows, the program has a unique mascot, Regi – a puppet whose primary role is to maintain a close relationship with the children. Regi isn’t just a figurehead but an active participant in the program. The puppet introduces the performances, energizes the audience, and has its own section on the Cien Mil Niños al Mayor website called “Ask Regi”, where children engage with the behind-the-scenes world of the theater. This interactive component has been a hit with young audiences, providing them with a deeper connection to the performances and a chance to explore the workings of the theater beyond the stage.
A global stage for youth
The cultural footprint of Cien Mil Niños al Mayor extends beyond Colombia. While the program highlights Colombian artists like María del Sol Peralta, Doctor Krápula, and Lucio Feuillet, it also features international groups from countries such as Russia, Italy, and Australia. Performances from Circus Oz (Australia) and the National Classical Theatre Company of Spain have helped broaden the cultural horizons of Bogotá’s youth, introducing them to different artistic traditions and techniques.
As part of its tenth-anniversary celebrations, the program is organizing a series of performances that will span the first half of September 2024. Highlights include the National Orchestra of Spain with their educational concert “María’s Laughter”, the Canadian circus troupe Cirque Alfonse with “Animal”, and a production of Lope de Vega’s “The Crafty Sweetheart” by Spain’s Young National Classical Theatre Company. These events highlight the program’s ongoing commitment to cultural exchange and artistic excellence.
As the program marks its ten-year milestone, the impact of Cien Mil Niños al Mayor continues to resonate across the Colombia. Moreover, the initiative’s educational component is central to its success. Teachers work with students both before and after performances, using specially designed materials to help them understand and reflect on what they’ve seen. This ensures that the experience goes beyond mere entertainment, becoming a platform for deeper learning and growth.
With the support of partners such as the Julymar Foundation and the Bogotá Secretariat of Education, Cien Mil Niños al Mayor is poised to continue inspiring future generations of artists, thinkers, and dreamers.
For more information on Cien Mil Niños al Mayor visit: https://www.cienmilninos.org/
