transfer it to future generations, and the need for sensitizing
citizens and public representatives about its origins, history,
vulnerability, and the necessity of its indispensable protection.

art expressions so that they can develop fully, be happy, and
contribute to the development of the country, by becoming
part of the workforce.

This statement applies to the interest that led Jose RozasBotrán and Juan Manuel Ávalos to establish the Centro de
Rescate, Estudio y Análisis Científico para el Arte -CREA.
During the past three years, this entity has worked on
analysis for documenting and restoring the assets of arts
heritage. It is located at Campus Médico San José. The
centre has specialized laboratories for the scientific research
and analysis of art heritage providing thereby a scientific
guidance to restorers in our region and, if necessary to
intervene sculptures, paintings, papers, monuments. It is
currently piloting a project for the restoration of archaeological
pieces. The team of professionals at CREA count with the
advice of biologists and art historians.

The centre was born from Grandes Minichefs and Arte sin Límites,
two programmes that left a trace in the evolution of education
for young people with special needs. The first one started as
the initiative of Chefs Sergio Díaz and Alfonso Torres who are
dedicated to teach the culinary art. The second one, derived
from the collaboration of artist Mod Cárdenas who has managed
to instil, among participants, the self-confidence they need to
develop their creativeness and express through painting. Both
activities have yielded amazing qualitative and quantitative results
in the live of these youth and their social context. In addition, this
programme has achieved the inclusion of some of them into the
labour force at companies devoted to provide food services.

CREA is bringing innovation to the profession with the
development of protocols for research and the application
of new technologies for the analysis of materials and
procedures. CREA experts conduct an initial research using
computer tomography scans and statigraphic cuts that
allow a detailed analysis of the composition, location, and
precise distribution of pigments and other components of
the works, in transversal sections. The new technology allows
defining aspects such as the type of materials implemented,
details of elaboration, and the era in which the work was
produced. CREA director, Juan Manuel Ávalos, explains that
contemporary techniques make use of electronic microscopy,
chromatographic techniques, X Rays, infrared or ultraviolet
rays, and specialized photography.
CREA has a mixed basis of operation. In other words, it is a
Corporation that offers private services and is also a non-profit
foundation with cultural purposes that can fund part of the
costs for restoring institutions such as churches or fraternities.
2013 - 2015 Centro Ocupacional
Especial Laboral Integral - COELI
Guatemala opens to a new era of social inclusion derived
Método COELI that provides training for young people
with special needs, in different formative disciplines and
30

2014 - 2015 Art-object leads a change for Guatemala
After the nomination of Guatemala as the Capital Iberoamericana
de la Cultura 2015, Jose Rozas-Botrán, due to his background
on art management, was appointed President of the visual arts
nuclei of the committee integrated for the celebrations. Among
the projects to highlight this civic feast, the Fundación installed
a monumental piece at Plaza Rotaria, near the Obelisco. It is
a letter “A” that in numerous languages represents a universal
sound. In Fundación Rozas-Botrán, it is also the first letter in
“Arte” and “Ayudar” [from the slogan in Spanish for the Art of
Helping]; in the declaration of it institutional values, it happens
to be the first letter of all the words that, in Spanish, lead its
actions, i.e. love, artists, support, happiness, friendship, and
harmony [amor, artistas, apoyo, alegría, amistad, and armonía
respectively]. Letter “A” is also included in the words in Spanish
for health, research, and culture [salud, Investigación, cultura
respectively], which are the core bases of the mission of Fundación.
This sculpture that has become the most admired art-object
in the city and because of its strategic location, is observed
daily by nearly 140,000 people. The piece will be regularly
modified by different visual artists. Another version of letter
“A”, accompanied by the logo that reads Guatemala Capital
Iberoamericana de la Cultura 2015, has been installed at the
front wall of La Galería Rozas-Botrán in Zona 14, being also
part of the celebration of said nomination.