“Imagine a school where art embraces craft.” That’s the Escuela de Artes y Artesanías Dr. Pedro Figari. This school carries a proud legacy in Montevideo. It blends artistic expression and skilled craftsmanship.
The Escuela de Artes y Artesanías Dr. Pedro Figari owes its name to Pedro Figari Solari. He was an influential figure in Uruguayan art and education. In 1915, Figari became the interim director of the Escuela de Artes y Oficios. He championed the art workshops. These workshops had been developing since 1890. Sculptor José Belloni was among those who taught here.
Figari was director from 1915 to 1917. During his time, Figari implemented significant reforms. These were inspired by his aesthetic treatise of 1912. He sought to dignify the “obrero-artesano” or worker-artisan. He valued their knowledge and inventiveness. Figari saw them as central to production.
Other historical figures taught at the Escuela de Artes y Artesanías Dr. Pedro Figari. Federico Lanau taught ceramics in 1923. Domingo Bazurro, Antonio Pena, and Carmelo de Arzadum led drawing courses.
In 1943, the school operated as the Escuela de Artes Plásticas. It was located on Avenida Agraciada. Manuel Rosé, Guillermo Rodríguez, and Edmundo Pratti were key teachers then.
The Escuela de Artes y Artesanías Dr. Pedro Figari moved to its current location in the Palermo neighborhood in the 1950s. Initially, it was on Durazno Street. In 2014, the school moved to another section of the same area. It shifted its entrance to Peatonal Ansina.
In 2011, the Escuela de Artes y Artesanías Dr. Pedro Figari acquired a new annex. This building previously housed the Centro Experimental de Formación y Desarrollo Artesanal y Cultural de Montevideo. It had been operating as such since 2008.
The Escuela de Artes y Artesanías Dr. Pedro Figari has two locations today. One is on Peatonal Nuestra Señora de la Encina in Palermo. The other is on Peatonal Sarandí in the Ciudad Vieja.
Many renowned artists have taught at the Escuela de Artes y Artesanías Dr. Pedro Figari. Domingo Laporte and Guillermo Laborde are among them. Pedro Blanes Viale and Godofredo Sommavilla also taught here. Stelio Belloni, Manuel Rosé, and Alceu Ribeiro contributed as well.
Today, about 1,500 students enroll annually. They study across ten disciplines. Classes are offered in three shifts. The Escuela de Artes y Artesanías Dr. Pedro Figari continues to nurture creativity. It blends art and craft. It empowers future generations of artists and artisans.