About the Center

The Casa Herrera is a new research, conference and teaching facility located in the heart of Antigua, Guatemala, operated by the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Texas at Austin in collaboration with the Fundación Pantaleón. As an extension of the university’s Mesoamerica Center, the Casa Herrera focuses on the varied and inter-related disciplines that contribute to the study of Pre-Columbian art, archaeology, history and culture. Its larger mission is to create new opportunities for education and research, facilitating learning and dialogue in many fields of study, among scholars and students from many institutions and nations in Central America and beyond.

Programs at the Casa Herrera can accommodate lectures, classroom teaching, small conferences and seminars, as well as limited space for residential scholars. Much of the programming is related to the larger mission of the University of Texas at Austin, but non-UT institutions and individuals are welcome to inquire about use of the space for various events or projects. While Mesoamerican art, archaeology and anthropology represent the primary research focus of the Casa Herrera, we consider a wider array of interdisciplinary activities and uses for the facility.

In addition to its primary role as a place of scholarly research and teaching, the Casa Herrera aims to be an important venue for community engagement with academia and the arts through regular programs of public lectures, concerts and performances.

About Antigua

Located high in the volcanic highlands some 45 minutes from Guatemala City, the colonial town of Antigua is one of the most beautiful communities of Latin America. Its architectural wonders led to the town being designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As one of the most important cultural and artistic centers in Central America, Antigua draws a large number of international visitors and students every year.

Antigua was founded by Spanish settlers in 1543, and soon thereafter became the seat of Spanish colonial government for the Viceroyalty of Guatemala. After earthquakes caused considerable damage to the city in the eighteenth century, the capital was moved to present-day Guatemala City, thus preserving much of Antigua’s present charm.

History of an Idea

Beginning in 2005, the University of Texas at Austin began envisioning the possibility of establishing a multi-disciplinary academic facility in Guatemala, long a central place for faculty and student research in the history and archaeology of Mesoamerican cultures. That year, exciting discussions and visions about the design and role of such a place began in earnest among several friends and colleagues working within and outside of UT, including David Stuart, Bridget Hodder, and Bárbara Arroyo. What began as a concept quickly moved toward reality thanks to the generous cooperation of the Fundación Pantaleón, owners of the stunning Casa Herrera property, who agreed to its potential use as an academic research center.

Once a mutual vision was agreed upon with UT-Austin, the Fundación Pantaleón invested considerable resources toward the house’s restoration, and they oversaw its remarkable transformation into one of the great architectural delights of old Antigua. With the support of Wartsila North America, Inc., the College of Fine Arts at UT began its programming mission, and looks forward to further developing the Casa Herrera as a major center of cultural learning and exchange.

For further information of supporting the endeavors of the Casa Herrera, please see our Support page.