They publish a letter of support to the director of the National Conservatory

Mexico City. Teachers, administrative staff and public figures in the cultural field signed a letter addressed to the teaching, student and administrative community of the National Conservatory of Music (CNM), in which they express their support for the director of said institution, teacher Silvia Navarrete, before the dismissal demands raised by the CNM Student Society.

This gesture of support occurs in the midst of a student strike that began in said educational institution on September 30.

The letter addressed to Mexican cultural authorities and public opinion highlights Navarrete’s career as a pianist of international projection and highlights his management since he assumed direction of the CNM in 2022.

The signatories, among whom are renowned musicians such as Arturo Márquez, Fernando de la Mora and Vicente Quirarte, emphasize the multiple initiatives undertaken by Navarrete to improve both the infrastructure and the academic programs of the institution.

Among the actions mentioned in the letter of support include the remodeling of the areas affected by the 2017 earthquakes, the waterproofing of the sound library, the improvement of the infirmary and the reactivation of the cafeteria. “In the academic field, teacher Navarrete has promoted the renewal of the study plans with the collaboration of the Academic Council and the support of the entire community,” the letter states.

“He has also made significant progress in the conservation of instrumental heritage, such as the restoration of an 18th-century cello and the acquisition of a Bechstein concert piano.”

The situation escalated to the national level, with the participation of teachers and students from other institutions of the National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature (Inbal). The CNM Student Society demands the resolution of a petition with 45 points, which includes transparency in income, the selection of the director, the updating of study plans and the repair of structural damage to the building.

In these pages, the federal Ministry of Culture (SC), headed by Claudia Curiel de Icaza, reported on its willingness to openly dialogue with all the actors involved to address student and academic demands, after the students expressed their discontent, and They carried out blockades last week on the Tlalpan road for several hours (The Day 9/10/2024).

However, cultural authorities insist on maintaining an open dialogue and affirm that they are committed to strengthening artistic education in the country, as part of the priority policies of the government of President Claudia Sheinbaum.