Conceived through community voices and supported by SQM Litio, the Leritchitacks Community Cultural Space opens its doors as a place to promote community, strengthen Lickanantay identity, promote art, and foster intergenerational unity.
A space built by the community
San Pedro de Atacama, May 28, 2025: The town has a new meeting and creative space, the Leritchitacks Community Cultural Space, whose name in the Kunza language means "heart of the people." This project is the result of a collaborative process that brought together residents, artists, and representatives from the public and private sectors, with the shared vision of honoring the living memory of the Atacameño people and projecting their identity into the future.
Named Leritchitacks in the Kunza language, the space owes its name to a participatory process in which the area's residents proposed and chose its name. This result reflects the profound connection between identity, history, and a sense of belonging, the fruit of dialogue between various local cultural actors.
Eva Siares, professor and researcher of Atacameño history and advisor to the Atacameño Council of Peoples in the commune, noted:
"The purpose of this space is wonderful, because it allows us to bring together vast knowledge and wisdom from those who want to come and share and provide living evidence of our culture through games, sports, and dance. It's a space born from the heart of the people."
A tangible gesture of respect for cultural heritage
The collective process not only defined the name of the space, but also represents a tangible gesture of respect for intangible heritage, Andean traditions, and the multiple voices that make up the territory's diversity. Leritchitacks is projected as a new heartbeat in the region's cultural landscape.
The center is designed for workshops, exhibitions, art shows, and intergenerational activities, serving as a platform for highlighting ancestral knowledge and contemporary practices. From traditional weaving to music, from oral tradition to the visual arts, this space showcases the cultural richness of a community that is both a root and a vision.
SQM Litio and its commitment to the Lickanantay culture
Justo Zuleta, mayor of San Pedro de Atacama, highlighted:
“For years, we have worked on various cultural expressions, promoted through public-private initiatives that have strengthened local identity. Today, with this new facility, supported by SQM Litio, new possibilities are opening up and complementing the areas of culture and heritage. He points out that the Town Council is also promoting an important initiative around heritage. This combined effort creates a space where people can come, gather, and actively work to preserve and promote the culture and heritage of this region.”
Javier Silva, Sustainability and Community Relations Manager at SQM Litio, commented:
"As a company, we strive to ensure that these artistic expressions preserve the Lickanantay culture, ensuring it is not lost over time, and supporting local artists to create new spaces to showcase themselves and reach more people."
Cultural activities at the Leritchitacks Space
The inauguration was marked by local artistic performances and moving remarks from community leaders and representatives of SQM Litio, the entity promoting the project in partnership with the community.
María Alejandra Zuleta, Assistant Manager of Community Affairs at SQM Litio, said:
"We are very excited to begin work on this space, which will feature a monthly artistic and cultural program, allowing local artists, writers, and cultural figures to showcase their work. It will also be a meeting place and host activities centered on artistic expression, especially designed for children."
The Leritchitacks Community Cultural Center thus becomes much more than a physical space: it is a declaration of principles that affirms the value of culture as a driver of social cohesion and preservation of memory, from a sustainable and transformative perspective. Furthermore, it is an invitation to continue building community through active participation, diversity, and ongoing dialogue.
More Information
At SQM Litio we invite you to discover more projects that strengthen the culture, heritage and identity of the communities where we operate, in our section Community.
About SQM
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