With the aim of preserving and promoting the beauty of the musical archive, a group of volunteers conceived the idea of organizing an international music festival, using magnificent churches as venues. At the same time, the intention was to raise awareness among the local population about the importance of this historical legacy as a component of the identity of the people of Santa Cruz; to showcase the ancient Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos and Moxos; and to present to the world the other side of Bolivia and its cultural richness.

In 1996, with great success, the Association Pro Arte y Cultura (APAC) organized the first International Festival of Renaissance and Baroque Music of the Americas, which is now considered the most important cultural event in Bolivia and the largest of its kind in the world. Since then, it has been held every two years, alternating with the International Theater Festival. In 2020, due to the restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, it could not take place. This year, everything is ready for the music of the Jesuit missionaries to be heard again in the venues of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, the Chiquitano villages, and other provinces.

But the festival is much more than just music. Each edition has featured art exhibitions, book and CD presentations, dance performances, food and craft fairs, as well as an international musicology symposium, where historians, researchers, and musicologists discuss various topics. The presented papers are published and disseminated through the APAC Editorial Fund.

The International Festival of Renaissance and Baroque Music "Misiones de Chiquitos" is a unique event in the world. The living culture of the communities where it takes place is displayed in all its splendor and opens its arms to welcome anyone who wants to get to know them, listen to them, and love their music. Contact us to find out if it will be held this year and plan your visit!