Centro de Creación Literaria Xavier Villaurrutia

The Centro de Creación Literaria Xavier Villaurrutia (CCLXV) opened in 2010 as a space for the training of literary creators. They presently offers diploma courses, seminars, classes and  workshops in poetry, fiction and drama. There are also frequent lectures and events with established writers and others from the literary world.

The center is operated by the National Institute of Fine Arts (INBAL).

• Xavier Villaurrutia González (1903–1950)12 was a poet, literary critic, and dramatist. He came to be known for his work with the group Los Contemporáneos which included other prominent writers in the early to mid-part of the 20th century. Villarrutia’s influence extended to the many important poets and writers he taught, among them Octavio Paz.

Originally opened as the Centro de Lectura Condesa (The Condesa Reading Center), today’s CCLXV occupies a historic building from the Porfiriato period. The building is over 100 years old and mixes Neo-Classical, Eclectic, and Art Deco elements.

The center also includes a temporary exhibitions space and public forum. The bibliographic collection focuses on contemporary Mexican literature with some 6,000 volumes. The collection and a reading area are open to the public.