Imagine the year is 1967. Here at the Facultad de Artes of the Universidad Central del Ecuador, a new chapter began. A group of passionate artists and teachers from the Faculty of Architecture and the School of Fine Arts in Quito envisioned a dedicated space for artistic exploration. Their initiative led to the official approval of the Facultad de Artes by the University Council on April 25 1967.
Initially the Facultad de Artes started with the Arts degree. The renowned sculptor Jaime Andrade became its first Dean. Over the years the Facultad de Artes expanded its offerings to embrace diverse artistic disciplines. In 1972 the Theater degree was created. Soon the Facultad de Artes will incorporate Music and Dance degrees.
In 2017 the Facultad de Artes celebrated its 50th anniversary with a formal ceremony on May 4. Throughout the year various events were held to commemorate this milestone until February 2018.
One notable event hosted by the Facultad de Artes was a forum titled “Dance between academia and its diversity of practices.” Organized by the Scena XV group the forum brought together representatives from dance and theater. Daniel Badillo Zara Albán Xavier Delgado Luciana Espinoza and Gilda Sánchez shared their experiences and perspectives on the art form. Badillo spoke about charting your path and discovering abilities outside academic requirements. He views dance as a language uniting heart voice and music for unique expression.
Another event at the Facultad de Artes involved a mural. A new teaching method was developed in the ceramics department. Teachers Mónica Ayala and Glenda Rosero proposed applying research to art education. They aimed to showcase academic processes involving theory and technique in a real space. This vision materialized as a two-dimensional ceramic mural on the building’s exterior wall. Students developed skills in conceptualizing designing and constructing the mural. The students used historical conceptual and practical research.
The Facultad de Artes continues to evolve offering programs in Performing Arts Musical Arts Visual Arts and Dance. The Facultad de Artes also offers postgraduate studies and various research projects. Community engagement is integral with the Facultad de Artes participating in outreach initiatives.
As you stand before the Facultad de Artes remember its rich history. Think of its dedication to artistic expression and its ongoing commitment to shaping future generations of artists. The Facultad de Artes remains a vibrant hub for creativity knowledge and cultural enrichment in Quito.