SMU's Meadows Museum and the Prado

Earlier this month, SMU's Meadows Museum announced a new, three year agreement with Spain's Prado Museum in Madrid. http://www.smu.edu/News/2010/meadows-prado-11june2010.aspx The agreement includes the loan of major pieces to the Meadows, interdisciplinary research at SMU, internships, and public programs. The Prado is arguably Spain's premier art museum, http://www.museodelprado.es/en/ and the agreement is a major win for SMU and Dallas.

Considerable interaction between Dallas, Spain, and SMU already exists. The Meadows already hosts one of the largest collections of Spanish art outside of Spain, including various Spanish themed special exhibitions such as the current "Royal Splendor in the Enlightenment." http://smu.edu/meadowsmuseum/about_CharlesIV.htm Additionally, Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava's "The Wave" graces the entrance to the Meadows.

Of course, if the name Santiago Calatrava rings a bell, its because he is the famed bridge designer, and the architect of Dallas' own Margaret Hunt Hill bridge under construction now!

In March 2007, the City of Dallas, SMU, and the Comunitat Valenciana, the regional government of the autonomous region of Valencia, signed a Cooperation Agreement dedicated to increased cultural exchanges between the three entities. http://www.dallascityhall.com/pdf/pio/DrGarcia_Spain0307.pdf The Valencian Tile exhibit at the Meadows in 2007 was a part of this agreement. The opportunities for exchange between Valencia and Dallas are great. In fact, Valencia undertook a major project after a 1957 flood to re-route its river, turning the original riverbed into gardens, jogging paths, athletic fields, performance halls, and the incredible Calatrava-designed "City of Arts and Sciences" museum complex. http://www.spanish-living.com/regional/Valencia_city-of-arts-and-science.php

It is exciting to see continued cultural exchange between Dallas and Spain, in particular Valencia. The two cities have some similarities: thriving business communities, busy convention industries, relatively new metro systems, "problematic" rivers that hold great potential, Santiago Calatrava, and...happening nightlife? Well, ok, Spain wins the nightlife competition, but we can always keep trying. Viva Dallas.