San José New Cultural Centre | Centro Cultural Garabito

See this week's newsletter.

In the León XIII district of Tibás, an area often overlooked in Costa Rica’s cultural scene, a new space has opened its doors. The Centro Cultural Garabito, inaugurated in February 2025, is a 920 m² cultural hub designed to support and promote art, education and community in one of San José’s most marginalised neighbourhoods.

This ambitious project, born through collaboration between the Municipality of Tibás, the Municipality of Coslada in Spain, and support from the European Union, reflects an international shared vision: to create a safe and inclusive environment where art, education and social connection flourish.

Although Centro Cultural Garabito first opened its doors earlier in 2025, its significance is now beginning to be felt. We want to shine some light on this new centre as it represents a long-term investment in cultural infrastructure and community life in Tibás and San José more generally.

Exterior of Centro Cultural Garabito, Tibás

A Cultural Home for León XIII

León XIII, in Tibás, lies just north of central San José. The district has historically faced social and economic challenges, with limited access to cultural programming compared with the capital’s more established neighbourhoods. For decades, Tibás has been better known for its struggles with poverty than for its artistic life. The Centro Cultural Garabito sets out to change that, offering residents access to exhibitions and workshops without needing to travel into central San José and reframing the district as a place of possibility.

By hosting exhibitions, workshops, and recreational activities, the San José new cultural centre is a new platform for local talent to be seen and celebrated, while also inviting broader audiences to discover voices they may not have encountered before. The details of programming are still developing, but the vision is clear. For young people, it promises an environment to explore their creativity. For families, it provides a gathering point where cultural heritage can be shared across generations. And for artists, it offers a new stage to showcase ideas, experiment with mediums and inspire others.

The Spanish news outlet Cadena SER also reported on the opening of the San José new cultural centre, emphasising its wider social role. Alejandro Alvarado Vega, the mayor of Tibás canton, noted that “this space is more than an investment project in the district of León XIII, as it represents a major opportunity to generate social mobility through culture and to transform the lives of many citizens of the canton.”

The Power of Art and Culture

At MÍRAME, we know how vital it is to bring together artists and audiences. The opening of Centro Cultural Garabito highlights the importance of investing in artistic spaces that allows art and creativity to thrive. The more local people engage with their art and cultural scene, the more energy and excitement can be generated for emerging talent.

When a cultural centre is built in the heart of a neighbourhood, it promotes dialogue, local pride and gives artists role models and the tools to develop their practice. It can even transform the perception of a district, turning León XIII from a place associated with social challenges into a hub recognised for its creativity and resilience.

We love visiting San José and exploring the museums and galleries. As many of you know, we are on a mission to showcase San José as a cultural and artistic destination that shouldn't be considered secondary to the country's ecotourism. The opening of the Tibás new cultural centre reinforces our belief that the city's art scene will continue on an upward trajectory. The Centro Cultural Garabito is firmly on our list to go and visit.

Looking Ahead

The San José new cultural centre is only at the start of its story, but its role is already clear: to give visibility to local voices and build pride in a district that deserves recognition. It signals Costa Rica’s commitment to decentralising cultural participation, ensuring that the arts are not limited to urban centers or privileged circles.

Programming for Centro Cultural Garabito is still in its early stages and official information has yet to be published online. For now, the best way to support its mission is to follow updates from the Municipality of Tibás and local cultural platforms such as GAM Cultural. At MÍRAME, we’ll share news as it becomes available. The future of Costa Rican contemporary art is being shaped not only in the country's national museums, but in community spaces like Tibás.

Email: [email protected] Follow: Facebook | Instagram