This document, written at the beginning of 1983, includes a long discussion about the financial sustainability of the CGM (Club de Grabado de Montevideo) as it celebrates thirty years of existence. The report acknowledges the Club’s lack of an institutional future: “Almost the CGM’s swan song (…).” The subject of the Club’s finances had been regularly discussed in most of its publications over the years, but this time it was presented in far more dramatic terms. The title of the report was an attempt at a (somewhat tragic-comic) play on words, contrasting the word “cierre” [closing] (i.e. the end of the year) with the word “apertura” [opening], a reference to the current historical-political situation and the dictatorship’s intention to “open” up the country to a democratic future. The CGM’s financial situation, however, was dire: “1982 was not just a year of “apertura” (opening); it was mainly (…) a year of “apretura” (tightening).” The word “tightening” (in this case derived from the expression “to tighten one’s belt”) refers to the Club’s serious shortage of funds [a situation that was discussed in the article “Mini Grabado Internacional de Cadaqués. España,” see the ICAA digital archive (doc. no. 1191135)]. Despite its troubling financial situation, the newsletter reports that in 1982 the Club offered its regular courses; promoted its members’ prints at the “Feria de Libros, Grabados, Dibujos y Artesanías;” published illustrated poems; and took part in two exhibitions (“40 años de la Asociación de Empleados Bancarios del Uruguay” and “Mercado de los Artesanos”), among other activities. But initiatives of that kind were not enough to prevent the steady downward slide in the Club’s membership, which was the source of the funds required for the survival of all such self-styled “independent” organizations.
[As complementary reading, see in the archive the following articles published by the Club de Grabado de Montevideo: “Concurso de grabado para edición” (doc. no. 863481); “13 años de actividad de Club de Grabado de Montevideo” (doc. no. 1183571); “El arte correo en el Uruguay” (doc. no. 1191850); “Boletín N° 7 Club de Grabado de Montevideo” (doc. no. 1182833); “Club de Grabado compra su casa” (doc. no. 1192649); “Club de Grabado de Montevideo 22 Aniversario 1953 - Agosto 1975” (doc. no. 1183514); “Club de Grabado de Montevideo a la población de Montevideo” (doc. no. 1183124); “Cuando el Tercer Mundo se mira a sí mismo. II Bienal de La Habana” (doc. no. 1184459); “De los grabados de ayer a las ediciones actuales” (doc. no. 1191787); “Definiciones / Uno” (doc. no. 1189065); “Entrevista a Luis Mazzey” (doc. no. 1186991); “Entrevista a Óscar Ferrando” (doc. no. 1186747); “Entrevista a Óscar Ferrando [segunda parte]” (doc. no. 1186802); “Fundamentos a propósito de su 22 aniversario” (doc. no. 1182640); “La necesidad de la imaginación” (doc. no. 1190793); “Nuestra institución” (doc. no. 1182010); “Los nuevos movimientos de las artes” (doc. no. 1182868); “Opiniones (I)” (doc. no. 1185411); “Referencias sobre identidad, cultura y arte en Latinoamérica” (doc. no. 1183641); “Reflexiones en torno a la supuesta crisis de las artes plásticas” (doc. no. 1185539); and “Sobre el papel de la crítica” (doc. no. 1187071)].
