On April 27, 1971, a concert was held at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Campinas by maestro Benito Juarez and the USP Choir. The presentation was considered the milestone of the beginning of artistic activities at Unicamp's Institute of Arts (IA). Starting first as a School of Music, IA, in subsequent years, flourished in other areas of the arts. Music, performing arts, visual arts, body arts and multimedia, media and communication today make up the departments of IA, which celebrates its 2021th anniversary in 50.
The celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the Institute of Arts began with an event this Tuesday, April 27th, with speeches and musical performances. The rector of Unicamp, Antonio José de Almeida Meirelles, opened the ceremony; the director of the Institute of Arts, Paulo Ronqui and the head of the IA Music Department, José Alexandre Carvalho.
The director of IA, professor Paulo Ronqui, highlighted the quality of the Institute's teaching staff, students and employees, responsible for excellence in undergraduate, postgraduate and extension activities. “We are proud of our teaching and non-teaching staff for the quantity and quality of the work carried out. I must especially highlight the quality of our student body, whether graduates from undergraduate, postgraduate or extension courses, as they are emerging in Brazil and abroad as artistic agents working in important artistic teaching and research institutions”.
The role of the Institute in the history of the University, the city and the region and the joy in celebrating the date in a time of adversity were highlighted by the rector of Unicamp, Antonio José de Almeida Meirelles. “It is a difficult moment in our history, whether caused by the pandemic, the economic crisis and whether, especially for us, linked to a university institution, at a time when culture, art, knowledge and science are called into question. So it is with great joy that we can celebrate, in a difficult time like this, the 50th anniversary of the Unicamp Arts Institute.”
During the event, IA also paid tribute to the professor and employee who have been at the institute the longest: Mauricius Martins Farina and Amauri Antonio dos Santos. Before the musical performances, there was also a testimony from professor Raul do Valle, one of the founding professors of the then School of Music.
“We were few in the 1970s, but with a lot of courage, joy and love we sowed the seeds, thanks to the support of Zeferino Vaz, magnificent rector, and Rogério Cerqueira Leite, our magnificent coordinator. I count myself among the few professors who started the music department and with it the Institute of Arts,” the professor recalled. He also recalled the important role that IA has for culture in the city. "Campinas benefits from the fruits of IA, which has always contributed to what is possible for the city's cultural manifestation.”
History of IA
The Institute of Arts was founded in 1969, three years after the inauguration of Unicamp. In 1970, in meetings held between Professor Friedrich Gustav Brieger, Professor Rogério Cezar de Cequeira Leite and Professor Koellreutter, the guidelines for the School of Music were designed. The musician Benito Juarez was then invited to perform a concert marking the beginning of the School, which took place in 1971 at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Campinas, together with the USP choir.
Still in 1971, the then rector Zeferino Vaz appointed professor Rogério Cezar de Cerqueira Leite as the first coordinator of the Department of Music and future Institute of Arts, whose role was to organize, plan and increase musical activities at the university. IA became official as a teaching unit in 1979, with the offering of a music course, with Professor Yaro Burian being the first director.
In subsequent years, with the development of activities in other areas of the arts. Currently, IA offers degrees in Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Dance, Music and Medialogy, and has five departments: Music; Performing arts; Visual arts; Body Arts and Multimedia, Media and Communication
Find out more about the story here and check out the documentary series produced for the 50th anniversary:
Celebration continues until the end of the year
The series commemorating the Institute of Arts' 50th anniversary will run until the end of the year, with events held by the five courses and the Institute's Arts Gallery. The events will be announced on the commemorative page: https://www.iar.unicamp.br/ia-50-anos/
