12/09/2018

The Gonzalo "Gonchi" Rodríguez Cultural Center will become a reality

At the 19° Anniversary of Gonchi's passing the Municipality of Montevideo made an old Fundacion’s dream come true: to have a place in which the Uruguayans could gather to pay homage to Gonzalo “Gonchi” Rodríguez.

The agreement, signed on September 11 by Daniel Martínez on behalf of the Municipality of Montevideo and María Fernanda “Nani” Rodríguez, President of the Fundación Gonzalo Rodríguez, states the intention of the Fundación of having a suitable the Gonzalo “Gonchi” Rodríguez Cultural Center granted by the Municipality and approve by the city Council.

After the signing of the document by the interested parties, Nani Rodríguez said it was the fulfillment of an old dream from the time the Fundación was created: “We have been working together with the Municipality of Montevideo for quite a long time, looking for possibilities for the Fundación to have a place in which to show all Gonzalo´s belongings to the public: trophies, pictures, awards, race suits, helmets, the car.  All those things that right now are in boxes in our office.”

“I think it’s time to share all those things we have stored. Because we won´t be here forever, and it´s important for people to remember this Uruguayan man that, although he passed away when he was only 28 years old, left us a legacy and inspired us to do many, many incredible things,” said Rodríguez. 

Rodríguez said that by being inspired by Gonchi, the Fundación “has had a great impact, not only in Uruguay, but also in other countries in the region. Now there is a new approach to children in mobility and road safety. And that was possible thanks to all those that worked and contributed to the cause having Gonchi Rodríguez in their thoughts.”

The Fundación Gonzalo Rodríguez´s President would like the Cultural Center to be not only a place to display Gonzalo´s history, but also an open center for the community, young artists with dreams that need a place to show their work; an opportunity to kickstart their projects”.

“Once we are assigned a place, we´ll call you all, because we´re all involved in this project. Gonchi has gathered us, we feel proud and full of emotions. And we are opening this place to be used by all Uruguayans, and we are doing it for Gonchi,” she concluded.

The Mayor of Montevideo, Daniel Martínez, described this agreement as “one of those things that make us very happy” because of all the things Gonchi represented to us, “because we, Uruguayans, are so proud, not only of his victories, but also of his personal drive and his charisma.”

“This place will have two aspects. First, it will acknowledge someone who succeeded, that made us happy, and contributed to our identity, and secondly, it will acknowledge the work by the Fundación that works so hard to save lives through road safety, which is the best way to pay tribute to Gonchi,” said the Mayor. He closed his statement making a wish: “We hope that next year, when celebrating 20 years, we will remember him at the Center in full operation.”

After the speeches, a short clip paying tribute to Gonchi was projected. The clip was made by students of the tertiary education Audiovisual technical course at the ISPET (LATU´s Higher Education Institute) a sample of the approach the Cultural Center will have towards young people willing to express different art expressions.

The ceremony in which the agreement was signed had among its attendees the distinguished presence of Santiago Urrutia, godfather of the Fundación, together with leaders of the Uruguayan motor racing clubs, national and provincial officials, businesspeople, and cultural managers of different organizations.