Silvia Albert Sopale

Silvia Albert Sopale is a Spanish Afrodescendent actress, writer, and cultural organizer. Born and raised in San Sebastián. She lives in Barcelona and performs in English, Spanish and Catalán. Co-creator of the one-woman show No es país para Negras (No Country for Black Women), which has been on tour since 2016. She is a founding member of Hibiscus Asociacion de Afroespañolas y Afrodescendientes and of Tinta Negra, and a member of t.i.c.t.a.c (workshop for critical transfeminist, antiracist, combative interventions). She is also a co-founder of Periferia Cimarronas (Barcelona).

Undergraduate Seminar 2025

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Un seminario para explorar la historia y política de la diversidad étnico-racial en España. Este curso tiene como objetivo introducir a les estudiantes en los movimientos sociales y cómo estos alimentan la práctica de artistas migrantes, racializadas y afrodescendientes que residen en el estado español. Descubriremos cómo les creadores se nutren y amplifican las reivindicaciones de los colectivos a favor de los derechos humanos. Abriremos el debate sobre el papel del teatro, la cultura y la performance en relación con los derechos civiles. Conoceremos en profundidad el movimiento por los derechos de las personas negras en España y conversaremos con artistas y activistas de la escena antirracista contemporánea. Estudiaremos propuestas artísticas para comprender la imbricación de los movimientos sociales en la cultura española. Realizaremos trabajos creativos para vivir en nuestros cuerpos la teoría “pasar de la palabra a la acción” y tener un mayor conocimiento de lo que significa “poner el cuerpo”. Esta clase es una oportunidad para comprender la relación entre arte y activismo desde una perspectiva descolonizadora.

Taught in Spanish. Prerequisite: SPAN-UA 50 OR 51 or approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies (span-port.dus@nyu.edu). Satisfies a requirement for a minimum of one 300-level course for the majors and minors in Spanish & Portuguese (Spanish track), Romance Languages (Spanish), and Spanish & Linguistics.

For more information about the KJC Chair and to view previous chairs, click here.

King Juan Carlos I Chair in Spanish Culture And Civilization

Established in 1983 thanks to the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Milton Petrie, this endowed professorship allows New York University to bring to campus each year an eminent scholar of the history and culture of modern Spain. His Majesty King Juan Carlos I of Spain visited New York University for the first time in December, 1983. On that occasion, John Brademas, then-President of the University, gave the King a doctorate honoris causa in recognition of His Majesty’s contributions to the causes of democracy and education.

The Chair facilitates the exposure of NYU departments and students to other facets of Spain beyond those traditionally present at the University level. Since 1985, this endowed professorship has allowed NYU to bring to campus each year an eminent specialist in the history, politics, economics, or culture of Spain, to offer courses and lectures, and to carry out their own research. It is an intrinsic part of the Center’s mission to integrate the discussion of Spain in fields in which it historically has been marginalized, such as economics, philosophy, and politics. It also brings together scholars of Spain from around the world.

A committee of NYU professors of Hispanic Studies meets each year to evaluate the candidates for the Chair, and to select a Chairholder. In addition to their teaching and research activities, Chairholders participate actively in programming many of the Center’s public events.

“I give thanks in the name of Spain. While it is true that this university has founded the Chair in my name, I am entirely conscious of what the Chair means for my country, for the community of Hispanic nations, and for all Spanish speakers in this hemisphere and on other continents.”

-H.M. Juan Carlos I of Spain

December, 1983

ATRIUM: Voices from the KJCC

In April 2022, NYU’s King Juan Carlos I of Spain Center turned 25. To commemorate this milestone, we produced ATRIUM: Voices from the KJCC, an oral history project that captures memories of the KJCC through the recorded testimonies of our past Chairs going as far back as the ’80s, before the Center was as we know it today: a robust cultural and educational institution that hosts both the Andrés Bello and the King Juan Carlos I of Spain Chairs.

Below we present a historic reel with the voices of some of our interviewees for the project:

You can also watch the individual interviews of the series here.

See all chairs

In Residence

Silvia Albert Sopale

Undergraduate Seminar 2025