Chile » Entertainment in Santiago

Santiago cannot boast the cultural riches of its regional rival Buenos Aires. The city was always an outpost on the fringes of the civilised world and what artistic activity it had was repressed under the military dictatorship. However, in recent years, the city has carved a new identity for itself and is emerging from the cultural wilderness.

There is a growing collection of quality art galleries, theatres and cultural centres, while a number of annual events have become major attractions in their own right. There are plans to develop Valparaíso, together with neighbouring Viña del Mar, as the cultural capital of Chile, but there is always plenty going in Santiago itself.

Theatre

Chile is proud of its theatrical tradition and performances catering to most tastes can be found across Santiago. The city's artistic life was stifled after the coup and contemporary and experimental works are only just starting to compete for audiences with conservative theatrical and operatic productions.

Music and Dance