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Buenos Aires, Argentina > Buenos Aires attractions > British Arts Centre British Arts CentreSuipacha 1333 (@ Juncal) ; Tel. + (011.54.11) 4393.6941
The British Arts Centre (BAC) in Buenos Aires might once have been the centre of tensions between indignant locals and the Anglos who founded it. The relations have certainly been stressful. In 1806 a group of British soldiers were defeated and expelled from Argentina, ending any attempts to incorporate the Union Jack to the Argentine flag. Then, just over twenty years ago, the Falklands/Malvinas, that were under the jurisdiction of the Queen of England, were invaded by Argentina’s military government. The British hastily retook possession of the islands, and emasculated Argentina’s military in the process. Today, the British have settled on a less aggressive form of invasion: the British Arts Centre and its depictions of the United Kingdom’s cultural splendour. From a boxed in court-yard, visitors may walk directly into two areas: the first, at ground level, is the centre for the English language and its studies; the second, down a flight of stairs to the left, is a domain for regular art exhibitions, dances, cinema, conferences (in English and Spanish) and theatre. The best on offer is the free weekly cinema screenings of popular and independent films of British origin. These films are all in English with Spanish subtitles, granting those interested in practicing Spanish a chance to read and translate as they follow the film. Be sure to be at the cinema fifteen minutes before the start of the show as BAC’s neatly dressed hosts hand out numbered admission tickets. There is often a queue of about 80% Anglophile retirees and 20% English or Spanish students, which snakes out the door, up the steps and out onto Suipacha. Door men collect tickets and invite you to donate to the British cause, but this is not compulsory and pinching at your pockets with a glum look will suffice if you genuinely are low on funds. —British Arts Centre review by Murdoch Stephens
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