Poets and officials discuss future of Mexico City's Casa Ramón López Velarde

Writers and poets have met with officials from the Mexico City Culture Secretariat to discuss the future of the Casa Museo Ramón López Velarde. The gathering followed protests against a proposed change in the museum's intended use, a plan initially announced by local Culture Secretary Ana Francis Mor but later rescinded due to public outcry. Cultural manager Edgardo Bermejo moderated the initial meeting, stating its goal was to reduce tension between the Secretariat and the literary community. He added that the space will continue without a director or scheduled activities until ongoing dialogue yields conclusions and consensus between both parties. Jesús Galindo, head of the Institute for the Defense of Cultural Rights, represented the Secretariat at the meeting. Writer María Rivera highlighted the demands of the Casa del Poeta Defense Committee. These include rejecting the use of the Café Bar Las Hormigas for private events, cabarets, or nightclubs. They also called for appointing a director knowledgeable about López Velarde's work and ensuring the Casa's exclusive use for literary and poetic purposes. Demands also extended to transparency regarding any contracts for the Café Bar Las Hormigas and clarification on whether concessions were granted for its operation, particularly concerning the sale of alcoholic beverages. Bermejo assured that the café would not be used as a nightclub, and the Secretariat would address each point raised by the committee. Local residents also attended, emphasizing the need to open the Casa Ramón López Velarde to the community and supporting the rejection of the café's use as a nightclub. Concerns were also raised about the potential installation of a bookstore from the Fondo de Cultura Económica, which some feared would monopolize the space for select publishers and writers.

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the space will continue without a director and activities until the dialogue concludes and conclusions and consensuses are reached between both parties.