The UNAY, Yucatán University of Arts, a Stronghold of Artistic Expression

The Yucatán University of Arts, a Stronghold of Artistic Expression, ¿Where to study arts in Yucatán? A haven for artistic sensitivity in Yucatán. Old Train Rail Station.

A Haven for Artistic Sensitivity in Yucatán

If you ever find yourself on Calle 55, between 46 and 48 in Mérida’s Centro, make sure to look around: you’ll see a huge yellow building with a central clock at the top of its main tower. This is the Yucatán University of the Arts (UNAY), and its cultural and artistic significance in the region cannot be underestimated.

Founded just 20 years ago on June 25, 2004 (originally as the Yucatán School of Higher Arts), UNAY has been a welcoming home for thousands of people to pursue their creative dreams through its diverse educational programs.

Mérida’s former train station, now UNAY

But the history of what we now know as UNAY goes further back if we consider the building that houses it. The main building, constructed between 1913 and 1917, was the former Mérida Railway Station. This historic hub was the most important railway center in southern Mexico from its inauguration in 1920 until 1974, when Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México (México’s passenger railway service) ceased operations.

Today, that beautiful architectural gem, still boasting much of its original walls, floors, columns, and more, serves as the administrative heart of the main arts study center in the Yucatán Península. Since 2019, when the project to upgrade the Yucatán School of Higher Arts (ESAY) to the current Yucatán University of the Arts began, the building has been expanded and modernized, now ready to welcome a much larger student body than ever before.

UNAY, part of the Gran Parque La Plancha project

This renovation was paired with the "La Plancha" project, a huge area that is now a sprawling park with multiple attractions such as bike paths, a playground, a theater, a culinary market, and an interactive fountain, among others, and which is connected to the rear of the university.

This project also expanded its educational offerings. Now, UNAY features the "José Jacinto Cuevas" Musical Training Program for kids and teens aged six to sixteen, a technical degree, six undergraduate degrees (musical arts, visual arts, film, classical dance teaching, contemporary dance, and theater), three graduate degrees (a master’s in arts, musical arts, and stage direction), and a wide range of research and continuing education opportunities. Excitingly, in 2024, UNAY will welcome its first cohort for the Bachelor's in Film—the first program of its kind in the state and the entire Península.

This is just one example of many that highlight the importance of the Yucatán University of the Arts in invigorating creative production in our state. It's a testament to its ongoing mission to meet the artistic needs of people of all ages and backgrounds.

Discover the contemporary artistic proposals of UNAY and follow their public events through their social media and official sources. You’re also welcome to visit their amazing facilities from Monday to Friday mornings (excluding holidays). If any part of you feels curious, feel free to ask for information about their educational offerings; questions are always welcome in places that nurture art and creativity.

www.unay.edu.mx
IG: unayucatan
FB: Universidad de las Artes de Yucatán –UNAY