This exhibition marks the 50th anniversary of the University of Alicante Faculty of Arts. The origins of the Faculty date back to the foundation of the University Studies Centre (CEU) in the late 1960s. In September 1975, the CEU’s Arts Section was renamed as the Alicante Faculty of Arts (History, Geography and Philology), affiliated with the University of Valencia. The CEU became the University of Alicante in 1979, with the Faculty of Arts as one of its original centres; this further cemented the Faculty’s reputation as a hub for the humanities in Alicante province and Spain.
Since its establishment, the Faculty of Arts has been a diverse and dynamic community where generations of students, lecturers and admin and services staff have worked together to develop a project based on knowledge, equality and social commitment.
Initially promoted by then-Faculty Dean José María Ferri Coll and curated by Rosana Gutiérrez and Mónica Moreno, two lecturers in the Department of Contemporary Humanities, the exhibition looks at the past, present and future of the humanities in an ever-changing world. The Faculty’s 50th anniversary should be an opportunity to acknowledge the importance of collective memory, but also to ask new questions and broaden our horizons.
The exhibition highlights the institutional and academic milestones, the changes and the many cultural initiatives that have shaped the identity of this centre. Visitors will find historical records, photographs, academic materials, publications and objects that document this shared journey. Supported by the Main Library, the General Archive, the Registrar’s Office and the Faculty’s departments, the showcase brings together a wide array of items from our collection, documents and other resources to celebrate the University’s rich and diverse history.
All in all, the exhibition pays tribute to past and present members of the Faculty of Arts, reminding us that thinking and words play a key role in building a university where everyone is welcome and critical analysis and compassion are encouraged.
