The XXI Bienal Nacional de Artes Visuales, the major national arts contest that is held every two years, opened on 27 February at the Museum of Modern Art in Plaza de la Cultura. Other new museums to visit are the Museo Candido Bid? in Bonao (less than one hour from Santo Domingo on the way to La Vega, Santiago or Puerto Plata.) Bid? is well known for his colorful works of art, several of which are now on exhibition there. Also opening in February was the Museo Bellapart in Santo Domingo, that houses an outstanding private exhibition of Dominican painting masters now open to the general public. Another outstanding art museums that is scheduled to open this year is the Centro Cultural E Le?n Jimenes in Santiago.
