San Miguel de Allende was founded in 1542, reached its heydey in the 17th century and underwent a severe economic crisis in the late 18th century. The wealthy moved elsewhere and the destiny of the town sank in a sea of uncertainty.

In 1927, while touring Mexico encouraged by intellectuals Alfonso Reyes and Jose Vasconcelos, Peruvian artist and diplomat in exile, Felipe Cossío del Pomar visited San Miguel de Allende and fell in love qith the quality of light. Some ten years later, following a dream, he started the Escuela Universitaria de Bellas Artes on the premises of a former convent at that time serving as an army barracks.

San Miguel then began to write a new chapter of its history in which education and art played a major role.

The school attracted students who meant income for the local merchants. Money began to flow in. A new hotel was built; home windows became showcases filled with merchandise for the new clientele. The town boomed almost overnight.
In 1946, art became a separate entity for the Secretariat of Education and the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes was created. In 1950, a general assembly announced the foundation of the Asociación Nacional de Universidades e Institutos de Educación Superior (ANUIES)—the national association of universities and schools for higher education— and the subsequent creation of the autonomous universities.

After being away for a few years, Cossío del Pomar returned to San Miguel to find his school of fine arts was practically in ruins thanks to the lawyer he had left in charge, so he embarked in a new and ambitious project. With a new team of associates that included his former PR expert Stirling Dickinson, former Guanajuato governor Enrique Fernández Martínez, and Nell Harris, Fernandez' wife, Cossío founded a new school.

Since its creation, the Instituto Allende obtained the endorsement of the University of Guanajuato for a Master of Fine Arts program and, thus, international recognition by several universities in the United States. This gave the new school a position of importance and, by 1960, it had grown both in size and scope and was offering a BFA program.

Enticed by the possibility of obtaining academic credit for studies in Mexico, an increasing number of American students found in San Miguel de Allende a place to come back to often, and usually brought a friend or two along, which further strengthened the town's economy. The Instituto kept moving forward, with a visionary leader at the helm.

"Cossío had great ideas, Dickinson was a fantastic promoter and my father had the necessary political contacts," says present-day Instituto director Rodolfo Fernández. "But the true success of the school is the result of my mother's talent and extraordinary administrative vision."

Presently, the Instituto Allende grows and becomes stronger by establishing links with art and language schools both in Mexico and abroad. Instituto programs are now in the process of being revised to obtain the ISO 9001-2000 certification.
"I am convinced that the only way of achieving social and economic growth is through quality education," says Fernández.

For many, San Miguel may be a tourist town, but what continues to attract tourists is the atmosphere created by its art schools and cultural events. After all, it was art that awoke the dormant beauty so many people admire today.

Public Deed Number 6,039 six thousand thirty nine
Volume LXX Seventy

Recitals:
FIRST.- The corporation “Fundación de Arte Enrique Fernández Martínez, Asociación Civil” is duly established according to public deed number 1193 one thousand one hundred and ninety three of the 1st of June, 1987 nineteen eighty seven, granted before Attorney Alfredo Zavala Ramírez, Notary Public number 7 seven of this Judicial District, established as “Fundación de Arte Enrique Fernández Martínez, A.C.”, and the first testimony of said public deed was recorded under item 94 ninety four of Volume I one, of the Section of Corporations and Non for Profit Organizations and Marriage Articles of Allende, on the 18th eighteenth of March, 1992 nineteen ninety two, currently Civil Folio number V03*000059.The members of the “Fundación de Arte Enrique Fernández Martínez, Asociación Civil” are the following:

Rodolfo Fernández Martínez Harris
Margarita María Rodríguez Vázquez
Mtro. Humberto Chávez Cabrales
Mtro. Jesús Méndez González
Mtro. Agapito Jiménez Rodríguez
Lic. Eva Dawn Fernández Martínez Borden

The members of the Board of Directors of the “Fundación de Arte Enrique Fernández Martínez, Asociación Civil” are the following:

Rodolfo Fernández Martínez Harris, President and General Director
Mtro. Humberto Chávez Cabrales, Secretary
Margarita María Rodríguez Vázquez, Treasurer
Mtro. Jesús Méndez González, Special Member
Mtro. Agapito Jiménez Rodríguez, Special Member

Chapter I – Generalities

Article I—The Association which is established in this act shall be known as  “Fundación de Arte Enrique Fernández Martínez”, followed always by the word Asociación Civil or its abbreviation A.C. and it will be a NON LUCRATIVE association; its main activity will consist in giving educational programs with official recognition for instruction in the arts and culture. 

Chapter II – Purpose and Powers of the Association.

Article 6.- In a declaratory but not limited manner, the purpose of the Association shall be the following:

1. To promote all the different branches of the arts, such a painting, sculpture, drawing, ceramics, photography, languages and others;
2. To install Art Schools and Artistic Education in several cities of the State of Guanajuato, in other cities within the country and abroad; with international recognition, fulfilling the requisites which in its case, are set by the governments of the foreign countries that are chosen;
3. To install and operate the Art School Instituto Allende founded in 1950;
4. To supervise the functioning of the Art School Instituto Allende, as well as other schools that are installed in the future, so as to fulfill the academic and administrative objectives, giving excellent service to the community and in those cases in which its operation is deficient, to apply the pertinent academic, administrative and labor measures;
5. To acquire by any legal title the personal property and real estate necessary for the fulfillment of its ends; and
6. To enter contracts and carry out all the juridical acts necessary for the fulfillment of the purpose of the Association.

Article 12- The Patrimony of the association shall be made up of:
The Association is committed to use its assets exclusively for the purpose of its social objective or ends, and cannot grant benefits from the balance to be distributed to any person or to its members, whether they are persons or companies, unless, in this last case, it is a person authorized to receive tax deductible donations or in case of payment for services actually rendered.

This stipulation is irrevocable. It can also receive donations for which it can issue tax deductible receipts, requesting said corresponding requirements from the Ministry of the Treasury (Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público.)

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