Starting in 1876, the Sociedad Estímulo de Bellas Artes [Association to Promote the Fine Arts] provided arts education and events [for the people of Buenos Aires]. In 1905, a municipal decree transferred the official responsibility for arts education to the Academia Nacional de Bellas Artes [National Academy of Fine Arts]. From then on, the Academy continued that work, though in 1927, its name was changed to the Escuela de Artes Decorativas de la Nación [National School of Decorative Arts]. Still later, it came to be known as the Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes Prilidiano Pueyrredón. At different times in Argentine history, students have called for reform of the syllabus. But under the de facto government of Lieutenant General Alejandro Agustín Lanusse (1971-73), student protests took a radical turn, leading to actions that were fiercely put down by the military authorities. This document was selected as evidence of the measures taken by the authorities to put down the student protests at the two Escuelas Nacionales de Bellas Artes [National Schools of Fine Arts], ENBAPP and ENBAMB. The document was signed by artists and critics such as: Juan Carlos Romero, Diana Dowek, Lea Lublin, Jorge Gamarra, Emilio Renart, Vicente Zito Lema, Jorge González Mir, Elda Cerrato, Margarita Paksa, Marie Orensanz, Ary Brizzi, Nelly Perazzo, Carla Albano, Armando Sapia, María Laura San Martín, Noemí Gil, Eduardo Rodríguez, Blanca García Uriburu, León Ferrari, Luis Zubillaga, Luis Fernando Benedit, Alberto Pellegrino, Ricardo Mosquera, Perla Benveniste, Roberto Duarte, Aida Carballo, Ricardo Tau, Enrique Aguirrezabala, Mireya Castex de Valero, Tulio Novello and María Juana Heras Velasco, among many others. This document has been chosen for its focus on the repressive measures taken by the de facto authorities. Of particular concern was the decision handed down by the judge, as well as the resulting alarm expressed by their families and the condemnation of the judge’s decision] by the student body at both schools.
