Latest News

Colombia’s Petro Defies Court Suspension of Minimum Wage Hike

By The City Paper Staff - February 16, 2026

Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Sunday mounted a forceful defence of his government’s 23.7% minimum wage increase for 2026, pledging to issue a temporary decree to keep the so-called “vital wage” in place after the Council of State provisionally suspended the original measure. Speaking in a televised address on Feb. 15, Petro said that while […]

A pre-Columbian flute is one of many artifacts in the exhibition Colombia: En un aliento. Photo courtesy: Banco de la República.

Colombia in a Breath: Wind Instruments That Tell the Story of a Nation

By Richard Emblin - January 29, 2026

Musical instruments are far more than tools for producing sound: they embody the cultural identity of a territory, carrying spiritual meanings, collective memory, and the deep-rooted expressions that shape a community’s history. Colombia en un Aliento 2026 (Colombia in a Breath 2026) invites audiences on a sonic journey through the country’s wind instruments, encouraging reflection […]

Beatriz González, one of Latin America’s most influential contemporary artists, died Jan. 9 at her home in Bogotá at 93. Photo: Hernán Díaz/Colección de Arte. Banco de la República.

Beatriz González: The Artist of Colombia’s Political Memory (1932-2026)

By Richard Emblin - January 15, 2026

Beatriz González, one of Latin America’s most influential contemporary artists, whose boldly colored, deliberately unrefined paintings and installations confronted Colombia’s long history of political violence, public mourning and social inequality – while also reshaping the country’s most important public art collection – died on Jan. 9, 2026, at her home in Bogotá. She was 93. […]

Colombia Bets Big on Instant Payments With Central Bank’s BRE-B

By Richard Emblin - July 17, 2025

Colombia has launched BRE-B, a real-time payments system developed by its central bank to unify digital transactions across banks and wallets. The free platform allows instant money transfers nationwide and aims to boost financial inclusion, mirroring Brazil’s Pix model while addressing high fees and limited interoperability in the country.

“Liturgies of the Body: The Collector’s Gaze” at Bogotá’s Casa Republicana

By Richard Emblin - June 19, 2025

The exhibition titled Liturgies of the Body: The Collector’s Gaze opens at Bogotá’s Casa Republicana, showcasing works from the Proyecto Bachué. Spanning 1960–1980, the private collection explores how the human body reflects power, trauma, and identity through experimental visual art.

Seeds of Memory: MAMU tributes Colombia’s Biodiversity and Food Sovereignty

By The City Paper Staff - April 22, 2025

The Banco de la República’s Semana de las Semillas (Seed Week), held April 21–26 at MAMU in Bogotá, highlights seed preservation as biocultural heritage. Events in Santa Marta, Quibdó, and Buenaventura celebrate ancestral food traditions, agroecological knowledge, and community resistance to industrial agriculture.

Inside the Paradises and Enchanted Gardens of Colombian Art at MAMU

By The City Paper Staff - April 11, 2025

An exhibition at Bogotá’s Museo de Arte Miguel Urrutia (MAMU) traces centuries of Colombian artists’ relationship with nature – through oil, ink, watercolor and flowers.

Casa de Moneda’s new exhibition hall redefines Colombia’s Changing Image

By The City Paper Staff - December 13, 2024

The Museo Casa de Moneda in Bogotá, owned by Colombia’s Banco de la República, has opened a new exhibition titled 21st Century: A Country Changing Its Image. This marks the completion of a two-year renovation and explores Colombia’s evolving identity through nearly 300 artifacts, including coins and banknotes.

Muisca Raft returns to new exhibition room at Bogotá’s Museo del Oro

By Richard Emblin - December 13, 2024

Bogotá’s Gold Museum unveils a revamped exhibit showcasing the iconic Muisca Raft and its ceremonial artifacts, discovered in Pasca, Cundinamarca. This intricate gold votive offering, tied to El Dorado mythology, highlights Muisca craftsmanship and spirituality. The exhibition opens December 19, featuring interactive displays and detailed cultural narratives.

Inuit Art collection from Montreal’s MFA comes to Bogotá’s Museo del Oro

By Richard Emblin - November 18, 2024

Bogotá’s Museo del Oro is set to showcase Anurijuq, el viento sopla (Anurijuq, The Wind Blows), a temporary exhibition of contemporary Inuit Art. The collection on loan from the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) highlights the rich cultural heritage and evolving identity of the Inuit people, who inhabit Arctic provinces and territories of Canada.

Banco de la República joins Bogotá’s Museum Night with Art, Culture, and Creativity

By Richard Emblin - October 24, 2024

The Banco de la República’s cultural spaces will participate in Bogotá’s Museum Night on Friday, November 8, by extending the hours of its venues, including the Museo del Oro, Museo Casa de Moneda, Museo de Arte Miguel Urrutia (MAMU), Casa Republicana, Museo Botero, and Casa Gómez Campuzano.

Banco de la República unveils virtual library of Brian Moser’s legacy in Colombia

By Richard Emblin - October 16, 2024

British geologist-turned-photographer Brian Moser (1935-2023) captured the lives of Colombia’s Indigenous, Afro, and rural communities. A new virtual exhibition by the country’s Central Bank – Banco de la República – showcases 1,400 of Moser’s most iconic images.

Colombia unites to honor Fernando Botero, one year after his death

By The City Paper Staff - September 9, 2024

Colombia commemorates the first anniversary of Fernando Botero’s death with month-long tributes at the Botero Museum, Museum of Antioquia, National Museum, Bancolombia Art Room

Global uncertainty is affecting the emerging markets.

Foreign Direct Investment in Colombia plunges 28% in the first half of 2024

By The City Paper Staff - September 4, 2024

Colombia’s foreign direct investment fell by 28% to USD 6.7 billion in the first half of 2024. The decline reflects growing economic and security challenges, including recent attacks on energy infrastructure. The data was released by the Central Bank.

The gold raft exhibited in the Gold Museum of Bogota.

Bogotá’s Gold Museum to temporarily close its legendary “Offering” Room

By The City Paper Staff - August 28, 2024

Bogotá’s Gold Museum will temporarily close its iconic “Offering Room,” home to the Muisca Raft, for renovations starting October 7, 2024, with a planned reopening in mid-December, promising an enhanced visitor experience.

Dr.Lakra’s fusion of pop art and religious icons set to open at MAMU

By The City Paper Staff - August 15, 2024

The Museo de Arte Miguel Urrutia (MAMU) in Bogotá is set to host a groundbreaking art exhibition that bridges the gap between religious iconography and popular culture. Starting on August 17, 2024, the museum will feature the work of the renowned Mexican artist Jerónimo López Ramírez, widely known as Dr. Lakra.