by Joy Houston

“The shell must break before the bird can fly,” to quote an ancient sage. The hope at birth that one day a new life will become independent inevitably involves a severance, whether it’s a bird from its shell or a project from its sponsor.

Ana Sylvia Ramírez, director of IGA

The Instituto Guatemalteco Americano (IGA) is such a success story. Created to bond the friendship between Guatemala and the United States, IGA was born by government decree in January 1945 in a hotel in zone 1 of Guatemala City. Under a director appointed by the U.S. State Department, programs of cultural exchange were promoted with the cooperation of the U.S. Information Service and the U.S. Embassy. Similar biculturual centers were established throughout Latin America.

When the Cold War ended in the late 1980s, both administrative and financial support were phased out for those programs, and many centers closed. But some countries, like Guatemala, Peru, Chile and Argentina, spread their wings and flew, becoming significant operations of cultural exchange and education. IGA responded by initiating income-generating activities and now is a non-profit, self-sustaining, “successful commercial entity,” according to director Ana Sylvia Ramírez. The institute continues its dedication to strengthening cultural ties between Guatemala and the U.S.

“There were some tough times, but we had an effective team,” says Ramírez proudly. “This is a very healthy operation.” The core of the financial operation has been the need for the English language. Beginning with 40 students, English courses remain a mainstay, now claiming 8,000 students. There are also Saturday classes for children, Spanish classes for business people and a school with enrollment of 700, focusing on bilingual secretary and teacher programs. IGA is authorized to conduct a roster of official exams and offers “all the assistance and guidance a student needs to attend university in the U.S. And our programs are available at very low cost,” Ramírez is eager to add. “The IGA ‘customer’ is the local Guatemalan citizen of low to medium income. This is our impact in the community.”

IGA has a four-story building of classrooms and offices in Guatemala City, four bookstores and, according to Ramírez, one of the few public, open-browse libraries in the country. It was named after the American poet Walt Whitman, following the tradition of other bicultural center libraries that bear names such as Mark Twain and Benjamin Franklin. “We cannot separate culture and education. They are almost synonymous,” nods Ramírez. IGA also maintains a fully-staffed facility complete with comprehensive programs in Quetzaltenango.

The educational programs help to support a 400-seat theater that serves IGA’s objective to promote cultural activities and provide a space for the development of artists. “We provide the publicity and administrative logistics to put the program on stage,” says Ramírez. A full calendar of events, drama, dance and music, finds slots for benefit performances about once a month, which Ramírez recognizes as a “social responsibility.”

In March IGA expanded its facilities with the addition of the Centro Cultural IGA. The previous residence adjacent to the present facility will be used as a second gallery. “This is the new baby. It’s what we’re bragging about right now,” laughs Ramírez with contagious enthusiasm.

In the visual arts program, the director is also excited about plans for a continuing exchange between IGA and U.S. organizations, including the School of American Research which is also very much on their agenda. “We hope to have six American exhibits in 2005,” Ramírez announces. And, through a grant from the Texas Commission for the Arts, a photo exhibit by the Permuth family, which premiered in Antigua in May 2004, will be shown in seven places in Texas over the next two years.

Ramírez, who “adores” her job, says “IGA has something for everyone from age 1 to 99, like McDonald’s or Disney, making everybody happy.”

The U.S. Embassy continues to work “hand in hand” with IGA, contributing financially and professionally. The IGA board of 12 directors, six Guatemalans and six North Americans, includes representatives of the U.S. Embassy. Now almost 60 years old, IGA enjoys a “wonderful working relationship” with its parent entity.