In the middle of a neighborhood in Mar del Plata, far from the coast, is a project of unusual proportions for the Argentine scene. A place where cultural programs coexist with a gastronomic offer that is not relegated to the “before or after”. The space was launched in 2022 with a double ambition: architectural – due to its variety of environments and uses – and substantive, with short theater, music and cinema being part of the same route.
“I am a seeker of gastronomic experiences and that is why I believe that one of Chauvin’s strengths is the proposal of the menu. It seems that it can compete a little with the artistic one, but we believe that it complements each other, that you no longer just want to see an interesting theater or music offer, but also want to be able to sit in a bar and enjoy a good drink or eat something tasty,” says Julieta Novarro, one of the owners.
In this logic, gastronomy seems to be integrated into the plan. A menu adapted to different moments of the excursion: “vermouth” options for early snacks and appetizers, main courses and desserts for dinner, all paired with a unique drinks bar and a wide selection of wines. The proposal includes paellas in two styles as one of the strong points; Appetizers like burrata, octopus carpaccio and shrimp; and main courses with risottos, catch of the day as well as meat, pasta, vegetarian alternatives and TACC-free options.
For Novarro, the original spark that gave birth to Chauvín is nothing more and nothing less than Microteatro, the microworks project she opened in Buenos Aires a few years ago. “Microtheater was the original project, which then became more ambitious and brought together gastronomy, art, culture and leisure, which is what it ended up being,” he concludes.
This format is the core of the project: short 15-minute works with monthly changing topics. According to the material, in addition to the dramaturgies arrived through the curatorship, there are also calls for texts by local authors and the actors come from Mar del Plata. In short, the experience is intended to circulate: see more than one microwork, combine it with a drink or dinner and continue with another plan in the same building.
It is a 360 degree experience supported by the concrete structure and vegetation, which softens with its contrast while highlighting the construction. There is a large main hall with box-shaped sectors, a terrace with vegetation and a basement that houses the rooms of the microtheater. The same basement can be converted using folding panels into a large room with a stage and bar that can accommodate 350 people.
This basement can also be converted into a micro-cinema for corporate events and a terrace with a folding glass roof.
The first floor adds another level: a space that alternates between a cinema and a concert hall. As a cinema, it has 72 seats and a fixed screening on Wednesdays at 8pm, with monthly curatorship together with Incaa, focusing on premieres and documentaries. As sound space It takes place from Thursday to Sunday, with concerts in walking format or with seats: the capacity is between 120 and 130 people.
In the music sector, the Agenda tries to cover a diverse audience: from an emerging cycle for young talents to shows by established artists. Artists who have already visited the space include Emmanuel Horvilleur, Dante Spinetta, Leo García, Los Espíritus, Barbie Recanati and Nahuel Pennisi.
In the words of Novarro: “I think it’s a difficult word to say and sometimes it gets distorted, but quality is the key. Whatever you do, you have to do it with common sense and put yourself in the shoes of the customer, the viewer, to give them an experience that you want to consume. I always put myself in the other person’s shoes and it seems to me that this is one of the keys to having a place that endures over time.”
The search for continuity also extends to the day: Chauvin functions as a coworking space with breakfast offerings, daily suggestions and opening from 8 a.m. These wide opening hours mean that the venue doesn’t rely solely on nighttime logic, in a city where the cultural calendar tends to be heavily concentrated in summer.
“We know that it is a summer with great challenges and we want to make proposals that fit people’s wallets, but without leaving them in a special place. We know that it is very difficult to produce works that come from Buenos Aires. However, there are artists who take their risks and bet on Chauvín. We do not consider Chauvín as a place for the summer, but as a legalized place for the Mar del Plata proposal for the whole year,” says Novarro.
In this context, part of the summer poster is already presented: a “micro selection” with the best of the year from the Microteatro; and in individual companies, In the air with Facundo Arana. There is also the return of Fabio Posca Transcensal (with premiere on January 9th and six performances), also Ros Ferrer From Sara to Sara Connor And I don’t remember thingsby Julieta Otero directed by Dalia Gutman.
According to Novarro, “Mar del Plata is a challenging city, with thousands of proposals and an audience that wants to do many things and represents a particular framework for new proposals. I think it is a challenging city and it is not because it lacks something, but because we have to go a little further.”
The reception is based on the idea of a complete exit: a place where you can eat, watch theater and even go to the cinema without changing coordinates. In fact, due to its architectural character and the type of floor plan, the room is often compared: it could be located abroad or in the centers of Buenos Aires such as Palermo or Belgrano.
“I think that with Chauvín we are reaching an area of cultural consolidation. Previously you had to go out and look for the artist or the proposals. Today it’s the other way around, today they come to you and that’s the before and after that you have when you have a cultural space, right? When they look for you to do something, that’s the most beautiful thing that can happen to you, because that means you’re doing things well,” says Novarro.
Looking to the future, he projects: “We would be happy more than anything else in Buenos Aires if this were repeated. To feel like I have a complete night in Buenos Aires with very good cuisine, a good play and a concert, I have to visit different places. Here you have everything in one place.”
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