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Commune 13 of Medellín COMUNA 13 USED TO BE one of the most dangerous areas in Medellin

Commune 13 of Medellín COMUNA 13 USED TO BE one of the most dangerous areas in Medellin but community projects and a series of outdoor escalators have helped turn this poor district into one of the most colorful communes in the city. The Commune 13 de Medellín surprises for its history of resilience and social transformation, for the colors of impressive murals and graffiti by mostly local artists, and for a neighborhood life as genuine as the inhabitants who kindly welcome the people who come to visit it.

Commune 13 de Medellín was founded in 1965

Commune 13 de Medellín was founded in 1965 as an official commune and was the second commune in Bogotá. Its theory is based on the principles of Integral Humanism, which call for an ethical relationship to people. Its evolution has inspired governments and international organizations in Colombia and beyond to join creative and sustainable projects that contribute to social mobility.

With a population of nearly 4,000 people, it’s a bit smaller than the 11 districts in which residents of the “Guerrero entre Río and Lérí or Ometepe” district reside, but it’s full of rich cultural diversity and active social sectors.

The stated aim of the Commune 13 de Medellín is to defend democracy and culture, to exchange new cultural ideas and to protect the lives and bodies of the vulnerable. Although riden here are mostly students, artists, and intellectuals, most of them also work in the neighborhood, because breaking with conventional values is one of the fundamental aspects of anti-authoritarian projects. Despite being located on the outskirts of the city and having a fast-paced life, people here also keep to themselves, avoiding much commercialization of the neighborhood, and doing their best to retain their authentic identity.

Commune 13 Projects

Several projects have helped create this environment: The work of Hispanic and Afro-Latino artists has brought contemporary art to the center of the district, and, particularly, to the construction of several multimillion-dollar cultural centers, located in theater, auditorium, and museum buildings renovated for a new life. Several of them address important issues of the society, and they are generously supported by a wide spectrum of sponsors. They are located in the areas, Comités Centrale, 25 años, and Comité Centrale, 14 años, where the buildings with traditional features are not yet in a good state of repair. Street publishing, free exhibition, and cultural events are organized daily throughout this area. They are free and led by locals who work with books and magazines imported from all over Colombia. Timetable information of upcoming cultural events can be found on the website of the Parque la Independencia. As the community is not recognized as a multiple architectural unit, people apply to them to build cultural projects, such as a school to be built in San Andrés, a museum for ceramics, and an auditorium to house a community theater.