The Pablo Neruda Foundation was created on June 4, 1986, based on the will of Matilde Urrutia, widow of the poet, which provides the creation of the Foundation, outlines its rules and appoints their directors and advisers.

The desire to create this Foundation appears in the early fifties, when Pablo Neruda donates his library and collection of shells to the University of Chile. Later, after returning home following his diplomatic mission in France, the poet writes and shapes with the help of his lawyer Sergio Insunza, his project in which he establishes his foundational will.

Since the beginnig, the objective of the Pablo Neruda Foundation, has been to promote and preserve the poetic, artistic and humanist legacy of the poet. Intending to cultivate and propagate the art and literature. And ensure that all audiences can approach and know the legacy of our Nobel Prize. Placing great emphasis on supporting the artistic and literary creation, especially the younger generations, facilitating their museum houses for all kinds of cultural activities, giving prizes and offering workshops.

It also promotes and facilitates meetings and dialogues with writers, artists and academics linked to art expressions. Establish links with similar organizations, domestic and foreign, to conduct joint activities and enhanced.

The Pablo Neruda Foundation would not have been possible without the strong will and dedication of Matilde Urrutia, who during the poet lifetime and with greater tenacity even after his death, collected, ordered and grew his legacy.

The restoration of many objects that are now in the art gallery, the collections, furniture, the organization of the library and archives, has been an arduous and delicate work. Thanks to years of effort and the assistance of numerous specialist, today the Foundation has this three houses turned into museums: The Chascona, The Sebastiana and Isla Negra, with an average of 250 thousand visitors per year who come from various parts of the world to enjoy its history and the activity of the cultural centers that operates attach.

To achieve its purpose of developing and spreading knowledge of Neruda and his work, the Foundation works closely with leading scholars in the world of Neruda, the chilean professor and resident in Italy, Hernán Loyola, the french professor Alain Sicard, the teacher of California Jaime Concha, the american professor René de Costa and the essayist Saul Yurkievich, among others.

Currently, the Foundation publishes two cultural magazines, Nerudiana and Cuaderno. Maintains poetry workshops in La Chascona, Isla Negra, La Sebastiana and Temuco. Gives annually the Pablo Neruda Award to a chilean poet less than 40 years, that stands out for his career.


Executive Director
Fernando Sáez G.

Library Director
Darío Oses M.

Photographic Archive
Carolina Briones M.

Communications Director
Nicole Sternsdorff F.

Director Museum House Isla Negra
Carolina Rivas

Director Museum House La Sebastiana
Jaime Pinos