By Carola Rico
For the seventh consecutive year, the Festival of Arts, Sciences, and Humanities will be held in San Miguel de Allende from April 28 to May 1, 2022. The festival returns with in-person participation and with the motto ¡Viva la vida! (To Life!). For Dr. Arturo José Padilla Córdoba, coordinator of Continuing Education of the UNAM San Miguel extension, the motto represents the enthusiasm we feel after two years of being locked down because of the pandemic.
“It was believed that the pandemic would last only two months, but it turned into two long years. And although we knew that this episode would come to an end, it has been slow and gradual. We hope that the conditions have improved and will continue so that these types of events can take place again,” Padilla shared.
What Padilla feels is important is that the festival is back and that it has been growing over the years. He expects that the Eighth Festival will be much bigger than what they are presenting today. He feels gratified that this year’s festival will allow participants to celebrate without restrictions, to be close to loved ones, to hug them, and to return to life as it was before the pandemic.
The Festival of Arts, Sciences, and Humanities is presented by the National School of Higher Studies León Unit of UNAM, through the San Miguel de Allende Extension Unit.
The Festival aims to generate an artistic, scientific, and humanistic program aimed at the population in general. All activities are free.
This year’s festival will be held at the following venues:
– San Miguel de Allende Extension Unit of the ENES Unit-Leon, UNAM
– Angela Peralta Theater
– Ignacio Ramírez Cultural Center, «El Nigromante»
– Auditorium of the House of Culture
– Revolucíon elementary school
– Insurgentes Heroinas elementary school
– Various high schools in the city, such as CBTIS 60, CECYTE San Miguel de Allende, CECYTE II Los Rodríguez, SABES San Miguel de Allende, El Pípila High School, and the Instituto Sanmiguelense
The program includes artistic activities, talks, and workshops on science and art. Among the artistic activities will be a children’s play, “The Dragon’s Head,” on Sunday, May 1, at 1:00pm, at the Ángela Peralta Theater. Concert artist Juan Manuel Alcántara will lend his stellar presence to a concert at 5:00pm at the same venue. Both events are free, but a ticket is needed.
The 4th World Cup of University Photography 2021-2022 Photography Exhibition will be at El Nigromante Cultural Center. Opening will take place on April 29, at 11:00am.
The virtual activities of the Festival can be followed on Facebook: facebook.com/FestivalFACH.
