In April 2022, NYU’s King Juan Carlos I of Spain Center will turn 25.

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

The series premieres with an interview with María Dolores Jiménez Blanco, who was our King Juan Carlos Chair in Spanish Culture and Civilization in the Fall of 2017 and was recently appointed Director General of Fine Arts in the Ministry of Culture and Sport of Spain. We could not be more proud of her affiliation with our Center and congratulate her on this incredible achievement.

The interview was recorded at NYU Madrid thanks to a team led by NYU Madrid Director James D. Fernández and supported by the NYU Fundación Rey Juan Carlos. The concept for these video interviews is the result of our longstanding collaboration with the creative team of Laia Cabrera and Isabelle Duverger. We hope you will enjoy the Atrium series, which we plan to share on our social media accounts monthly.

In the works are episodes with Mexican writer Carmen Boullosa, Fall 2002 Andrés Bello Chair in Latin American Cultures and Civilizations; and virtuoso musician Cristina Pato, who was King Juan Carlos Chair in Spanish Culture and Civilization during the academic year 2019/ 20, and who has just been recognized for her accomplishments with the Daniel and Nina Carasso Foundation’s Committed Artist Award.

Stay tuned for our anniversary activities. You have been a part of the Center’s history!

Jordana Mendelson, Director

Laura Turégano, Associate Director

With the support of the Fundación Rey Juan Carlos I.