Lifestyle and Culture

UNDERSTANDING

Government support programs in Aguascalientes MEXICO

The Aguascalientes Government especially the Economic Development, Science and Technology Secretariat provide support to assist investors set up and run a business in Aguascalientes. The form of assistance available will vary by location, industry, and the nature of the business activity.

Further information on assistance available to businesses through grants, finding and training employees, R&D tax incentives, location, major project facilitation, and for exporting is provided below.

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Accessing Aguascalientes’s investment services

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Accessing Aguascalientes’s investment services

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Events

Lifestyle and Culture

The State of Aguascalientes is characterized by its high life quality, its promotion of culture and its wide range of educational, artistic, and recreational activities so that you and your family can enjoy rich experiences, knowledge about local traditions and expressions of contemporary Mexican art.

10
th

national place in life quality

10
rd

national place with the lowest illiteracy rate

10
st

place in nutrition and access to basic medical care

10
rd

place in social perception of national security

1
%

of the State GDP belongs to the Cultural Sector

Once these basic needs are met, the State can create new development opportunities for its citizens and their local and foreign communities. Which can be measured in its:

Economic complexity:

Ranking 9th in the national Top 10; this is how Aguascalientes develops a connection between the towns and the activities carried out in each of them, measuring existing capacities in its economy, with an economic complexity index of .83.*

Source: (INCAE Business School, Social Progress Imperative. (2019). “ÍNDICE DE PROGRESO SOCIAL, AGUASCALIENTES 2019.”, de México cómo vamos Sitio web: https://mexicocomovamos.mx/md-multimedia/1573769802-571.png )

All of these is reflected in its people, its art and culture, in the actions taken to promote it and in the results that directly impact the life quality of the population.

Some of the most relevant international alliances in this regard have been:

Integration of the Aguascalientes Chapter of the Global ResiliArt Movement of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for resilience and economic reactivation through cultural tourism and gastronomy.
The Aguascalientes International Forum: Culture, creativity and peace held in 2019.
The Aguascalientes Creative City Project with the municipalities network.
The Aguascalientes Geopark Project: The Water Routes that promotes the cultural and natural heritage of the state.
Dual Education in Arts.
The Urban-Historical Landscape.

The state of Aguascalientes is a national benchmark for the conjunction between tradition and innovation that brings together he bastions of artistic creations year after year.

In exhibitions of visual and graphic arts of the National Meeting of Young Art, the José Guadalupe Posada International Graphic Biennial, the Enrique Guzmán Drawing and Painting Biennial, exhibitions and interventions of large format and international quality in public space.
For his literary quality in the Aguascalientes Fine Arts Poetry Prize, the Dolores Castro Encounter, the Salvador Gallardo Dávalos Young Literature Prize.
For the quality of its stage productions at the Aguascalientes Fair, the current music, theater, and classical and contemporary dance scene, the extraordinary performance of the Aguascalientes Symphony Orchestra, the opera, the chamber music and the Jazz and Opera Singing Festivals.

As well as the richness of its cultural diversity that gave rise to ceramics, basketry, saddlery, fraying, traditional festivals, and the local products that give life to its gastronomy.

The Economic Impact of the Cultural Sector in the State contributes to:

2.3% of the State’s GDP
1,145 economic-creative units
10,000 jobs with .2% annual growth
Employability of 32% of the Economically active Population under 30 years of age.

In addition, its extensive Cultural Infrastructure has allowed it to offer:

80% free of charge of cultural offer
2,844 artistic educational options
4,365 cultural events and artistic presentations in cultural spaces, as well as in public spaces.

CREATIVE SECTOR

Placing Aguascalientes as the 6th National Place in growth of the Creative Sector, with:

11 Houses of Culture

66 Public Libraries and 1 mobile

2 Houses of Crafts

4 Cultural Centers

5 Study Centers at technical, intermediate, superior, and postgraduate levels

2 Artistic Research Centers

3 Public Cultural Patios

37 Cultural extensions in municipal communities

12 Galleries

2 Libraries

6 Museums

84 Reading Rooms

6 Theaters, 1 Forum, 1 Concert Hall and 1 Basement for concerts

Here is a map of the cultural infrastructure in the State:

(Visual support obtained from the database of the Cultural Institute of Aguascalientes, 2020)

One of its most important cultural projects is the Tres Centurias Complex, where the University of Arts, the National Graphic Workshop, the Workshop for the Conservation and Restoration of Movable Property, the Espacio Museum are organized, placing the State in:

32
st

National place in infrastructure for artistic education, from its initial level to its postgraduate degrees.

32
nd

National place in the opening of formal Artistic Initiation Schools associated with INBAL. (National Institute of Fine Arts)

Aguascalientes invests in comprehensive artistic training because it is an inexhaustible source of wealth and cultural diversity in the State. So today it has the following academic offer of Artistic Education from Middle to Higher level:

Bachelor in Visual Arts
Bachelor in Classical Dance
Bachelor in Contemporary Dance
Bachelor in Mexican Folkloric Teaching
Bachelor in Theater
Master in Contemporary Art
Master in Conservation and Restoration of Heritage
Higher University Technician in Instrumental Music
Children’s Propaedeutic in Music
George Berard Dance School
José Guadalupe Posada Museum with artistic residencies in Graphic Arts
National Graphic Workshop with Artistic residencies in Graphic Arts
Postgraduate UNAM Masters and Doctorate in Arts and Design
As well as free courses, workshops, and summer courses in public libraries.

Follow the EVENTS of the Cultural Institute:

Participate in their calls::

https://www.aguascalientes.gob.mx/ICA/convocatorias.html

ICA

Viva Aguascalientes

IDEA Instituto del Deporte del Estado de Aguascalientes

Touristic Attractions

Aguascalientes is a state full of historical, cultural, and technological richness; headquarters of the Sovereign Revolutionary Convention, birthplace of the engraver José Guadalupe Posada, creator of the Catrina or Calavera Garbancera, and former home of the sculptor Jesús F. Contreras.

YEAR	NUMBER OF EVENTS	NUMBER OF PEOPLE	TYPE OF EVENTS
2017	86	49,934	ACADEMICS & AUTOMOTIVES
2018	99	68,711	ACADEMICS, SPORTS & MEDICAL
2019	70	101,465	ACADEMICS, SPORTS & MEDICAL
2020	20	31,170	ACADEMICS, SPORTS & MEDICAL

Magical Towns, world-class museums, vineyards, and tours of the Historic Center are some of the many characteristics that make this a beautiful state, rich in experiences.

In addition, with a wide tourist offer and a gastronomic and wine tradition, Aguascalientes is one of the most prosperous, safe, and pleasant states to visit and to live in Mexico.

Here is a short summary of the quantity and quality events that the State offers, only as an index, we will go deeper ahead.

Permanent Tourist Attractions (all year long)

Tour in Tourist Tram

Pedestrian walk through the Historic Center and explanation of the Government Palace murals

Variety of museums

Tres Centurias Square

Wine Route

(tours and tastings in vineyards)

Viva Aguascalientes

MAGICAL TOWNS

SAN JOSÉ DE GRACIA
REAL DE ASIENTOS
CALVILLO

SAN JOSÉ DE GRACIA

Touristic Attractions

Mountain Range Sierra Fría
Dam Plutarco Elías Calles
Sanctuary of the Cristo Roto
Temple of the Sr. of San José
Gate Curtain
Natural Canyions
Adventure Park Boca de túnel
Theme Park La Alameda
Handicrafts and gastronomy market
Artisan gallery

REAL DE ASIENTOS

Touristic Attractions

Museum of Cactus
Underground tunnels
Mining museum
Gallery
Guadalupe Pantheon
Chapel of the Holy Cross
Temple of our lady of Belen
Commercial Route Camino Real of Tierra Adentro
Ex convent museum of Tepozán
Temple of Our Lady from Guadalupe
Miner’s House
Historical Center Casa Larrañaga

Calvillo

Touristic Attractions

Handicrafts and gastronomy market
Dam and Canyon of Malpaso
Dam La Codorniz
Cottages
National Museum of Magical Towns
Aquatic Parks
Artisan’s house
Municipal Market Manuel Gómez Morín

TOURIST PRODUCTS

“SAN MARCOS” NATIONAL FAIR

The National Fair of San Marcos is one of the celebrations with the greatest tradition and history in Mexico (more than 190 years of being celebrated) and is also one of the most important mass events in the world, which takes place during the months of April and May in Aguascalientes, having at its disposal a fair perimeter with an approximate extension of 90 hectares between spaces such as the Historical Center, San Marcos Island, nightclubs area, restaurant area, Bullrings and other venues.

It is a multidisciplinary event that differs from all Mexican festivities by the conjunction of entertainment, culture, traditions, musical and sports events, bullfighting shows, diversity of exhibitions, artistic events, as well as a great culinary diversity, becoming one of the oldest and most important festivities in our country.

Considered the “largest fair in Mexico” and one of the most important internationally, it has reached an influx of visitors of approximately 8 million people in just 22 days.

WINE ROUTE

Aguascalientes has the climatic conditions and an ideal height for the cultivation of grapes, that is why since its foundation it already had plantations that were growing in number and extension until reaching the second place in vine production in the country.

Although the Aguascalientes wine boom fell asleep for a time, as of 2005 the production of local wine has been given impetus again, producing various labels with varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Parrellada, Blanc de Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Syrah, Mourvedre, Nebbiolo, Garnacha Blanca, Touriga Nacional, Tempranillo, among others. Currently, Aguascalientes has 205 hectares of wine grapes. There are 10 wineries and vineyards open to the public to provide tourist experiences.

CALAVERAS CULTURAL FEST

Traditional celebration of the Day of the Dead in which for 10 days, at the end of October and beginning of November, the artwork of the engraver José Guadalupe Posada is shown in all of its splendor, showing with great joy and colorful celebration the way to see death in Aguascalientes.

This festival, which dresses the city up in colors and skulls, offers its visitors a wide variety of free multidisciplinary and artistic events, an expo-sale of local products, a children’s pavilion with free activities for children, a bread pavilion where people learn about the traditional “bread of the dead”, exhibitions of altars of the dead, cultural presentations, tours with local legends, sports events and much more.

CHRISTMAS TOWN

“Villa Navidad” emerged in 2018 as an event that seeks to maintain Mexican traditions around the December celebrations and unite families from Aguascalientes through the various activities it offers, bringing with it a spill of $ 73.70 million pesos.

In this event, a Guinness World Record was obtained for having the tallest sculpture made with plastic bottles in the world, which measures 27.40 meters and is made up of more than 98,000 pet bottles.

LODGING

According to the latest census between INEGI (National Institute of Statistic and Geography) and SECTUR (Ministry of Tourism), in Aguascalientes there are 206 lodging establishments.

There are 7,824 rooms among all the lodging providers, being 6,364 hotel rooms and 941 motels.

Live

Camping

Rock climbing

Trekking

Mountaineering

Mountain biking

Rappel

Zip lines

Sport fishing

Kayak ride

Water skiing