Reading
this report of the activities of the King Juan Carlos I of Spain Center for the last four years brings home to me what an honor, and also what a daunting prospect, it is to succeed James Fernández as Director of the Center which he has, over the past twelve years since it was created, made into the wonderful showcase for Spanish, Latin American, and Latino culture that it is today. Thanks to his vision, and to the dedication of the Center’s Associate Director Laura Turégano and Administrative Assistant Luis Pérez, I find myself, as incoming Director, in the fortunate position of being able to build on the Center’s past successes. In the years ahead, I look forward to consolidating the diverse program of activities that has made the Center a reference point both for faculty and students at NYU and across and beyond New York City, and for a wider public interested in the cultures of Spain and the Spanish-speaking world. We have recently broadened our programming to include the Spanish inheritance in the Philippines, and I hope to be able to increase the attention we give to the Portuguese-speaking world. I have been particularly heartened by the success of activities that we have held jointly with other Departments and Centers at NYU, and look forward to taking that collaboration further, as well as continuing and extending our collaboration with other cultural institutions in the New York area. Another aim for the next few years is to build on the success of the Center’s office in Madrid, thanks to the efforts of John Healey, in developing relationships and collaborative activities with institutions in Spain. One of the pleasures afforded by my position as Director of the Center is that it enables me to meet and learn from colleagues in a wide range of academic disciplines, based at universities in this country and overseas, as well as introducing me to areas of culture with which I was not previously familiar. I look forward to helping to enhance that cultural diversity and to sharing it with all those who attend our events. I would like to thank Dr. John Brademas, as founder of the King Juan Carlos I of Spain Center and President of its Foundation, and the Foundation’s Vice President, Jesús Sainz, for their tireless support for our activities, and look forward to working with them in the future. Jo Labanyi Director, 2008-
The King Juan Carlos I of Spain Center. REPORT ON ACTIVITIES. 2004 - 2008
MISSION 2: