Cervantino International Arts Festival  

History and origins

The Cervantino International Arts Festival is Mexico's premier arts festival and surely the most important cultural event in Latin America. Held annually since 1972 in the UNESCO declared World Heritage city and surrounding mines of Guanajato, the city was founded in 154. It is also the capital of the state bearing the same name and always been to the forefront of great historical change and is the recognized Cradle of Mexican Independence (1810).

Originally the emphasis of the Fesival concentrated on artistic creations in the Spanish language in homage to Miguel de Cervantes y Saavedra, author of Don Quijote, but the universal atrraction of Cervantes pervaded and now a host of worl class artistic and cultural expressions are present.

During the Cervantes Festival , Guanajuato is transformed into the Mecca of artistic expression and creation in such diverse areas as music, opera, theatre, dance, visual arts, cinema amongst others. Guanajuao is during the festival the major scenario for contemporary artistic creation attracting a wide audience from Mexico and abroad. To date most countries have taken part in at least one edition of this feast of worl culture.

The Cervantino International Arts Festival , an active member of the European Association of Festivals, is the result of the coordinated effort by the Mexican government via the National Council for Arts and Culture in conjunction with the State and Municipal governments of Guanajuato, the Guanajuato Institute of Culture, the University of Guanajuato as well as other important public and private institutions.

Magnificient venues such as the Juarez Theatre, built between 1872 and 1903, the Principal Theatre, the Cervantes Theatre, the Mining School Theatre, and the State Auditorium have been mute witness to great historical events. The imposing Granaditas Granary, a fortress like structure from the 18 century, provides the background for a magnificient outdoor venue. Other events are held in the churriqueresque (Mexican baroque) style churches of Valenciana and La Compañía. The San Gabriel de Barrera Hacienda offers a refined open-air scenario. Visual arts are catered to at the unique University of Guanajuato, the Diego Rivera Museum, the Alhondiga Regional Musseum, the Olga Costa-Jose Chavez Morado Museum, the Quixote Iconographic Museum, the Pueblo Museum, the State Historic Archives building and the Gene Byron Museum, amongst others.

Its privileged geographical location and accessibility in the center of the country midway between Mexico City and Guadalajara, the stric selectionb of artist and groups, the important support of public institutions, the generosity from the private sector as well as the enthusiasm of the people of Guanajuato make the Cervantes Festival a unique rendezvous for artistic and audience. It is no coincidence that this display of cultural and artistic expression has been named after Cervantes, the most universally acclaimed of all Spanish writers.

THE BRITISH INVASION OF GUANAJUATO - FIC FESTIVAL OCT 4-22 , 2006