National Experimental University of the Arts
The National Experimental University of the Arts (), commonly known as UNEARTE, is a public university in Venezuela, founded on 6 May 2008. The institution is jointly overseen by the Ministry of Popular Power for University Education (MPPEU) and the Ministry of Popular Power for Culture (MinCultura) of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
The university offers several undergraduate degrees and postgraduate programmes in the fields of arts and culture. Its current rector is Ignacio Barreto.
History
UNEARTE was created in 2008 by decree of President Hugo Chávez as part of the Misión Alma Mater programme, a national initiative aimed at restructuring Venezuelan higher education. The new university absorbed four existing institutions:
- the University Institute of Higher Studies of Plastic Arts Armando Reverón (IUESAPAR), which had been founded in honour of the painter Armando Reverón;
- the University Institute of Musical Studies (IUDEM);
- the University Institute of Dance (IUDANZA);
- the University Institute of Theatre (IUDET).
The merger was intended to promote the transformation of Venezuelan higher education across all artistic disciplines, including plastic arts, photography, design, music, theatre, dance and audiovisual production.
Academic structure
The university offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes organised around the artistic disciplines inherited from the four founding institutes: visual arts, music, theatre, dance, and audiovisual arts. The curriculum is grounded in the model of experimental universities promoted by the Venezuelan government, which emphasises community engagement and the integration of academic training with cultural production.
Campus
UNEARTE operates its main campus in Caracas and maintains regional venues in eleven Venezuelan states: Portuguesa, Anzoátegui, Nueva Esparta, Mérida, Cumaná (Sucre), Aragua, Miranda, Cojedes, Lara and Bolívar.
See also
- List of universities in Venezuela
- Education in Venezuela