Universidad de las Artes

What Universidad de las Artes does

Universidad de las Artes (UArtes) is Ecuador's first public higher education institution dedicated exclusively to the arts, established in 2012 and headquartered in the Antiguo Palacio de la Gobernación on Guayaquil's Malecón Simón Bolívar. The university operates 8 undergraduate (licenciatura) programs spanning Visual Arts, Cinema, Theatrical Creation, Dance, Literature, Intercultural Artistic Education, Musical and Sound Production, and Musical and Sound Arts, plus 6 master's (maestría) programs in Musical Composition and Sound Arts, Documentary Film, Visual Arts and New Media, Performing Arts, Culture and Arts Management, and Creative Writing. The institution is led by Rector Saidel Brito, with academic and research vice-rectorates held by Yulianela Pérez and Andrey Astaiza respectively.

The university's platform infrastructure comprises the Campus Virtual learning management system for online and hybrid instruction, the SGA (Sistema de Gestión Académica) for student registration and academic records, the Quipux-based Gestión Documental for institutional document workflow, and Radio UArtes as an audio content channel. Supporting resources include the Biblioteca de las Artes, the Fondo Mesías Maiguashca archive, the Sala Ría collection, and the UArtes Ediciones publishing division.

UArtes' business model is a hybrid public-finance model: state appropriations constitute the primary revenue base, supplemented by published tuition fees (aranceles) and scholarships administered through Bienestar Estudiantil. Customer acquisition is direct-to-consumer through campus visits, open houses (UArtes Lab), social media across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, and X, and an InfoUArtes blog. Distribution is via on-campus instruction at the Guayaquil headquarters, supplemented by the virtual campus and international student mobility programs through national and international partner universities. Community engagement is delivered through cultural events including the mMAT (Minga Multimedia de Arte y Tecnología) festival, partnerships with MAAC, Museo Nahim Isaias, and the Municipio de Guayaquil's Ruta Centro initiative, plus participation in international forums such as FIL Lima and the I Forum of Latin American and Caribbean Rectors.

Name

Universidad de las Artes

Legal name

Universidad de las Artes

Website

https://uartes.edu.ec

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Universidad de las Artes is Ecuador's first public arts university, based in Guayaquil, offering 8 undergraduate and 6 graduate programs across visual arts, cinema, theater, dance, literature, music, and sound arts to domestic students, with international exchange partnerships and community cultural programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education (Arts)

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Fine Arts Schools (61161)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Humanities & Creative Research Universities (EDAHABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Colleges (Theatre, Dance, Musical Theatre) (EDAHAJAD), Fine Arts Colleges (Painting, Sculpture, Printmaking) (EDAHAJAA)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Arts education
• Performing arts
• Undergraduate programs
• Graduate programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Guayaquil

HQ country

Ecuador

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees (Aranceles): Public university that charges tuition fees (aranceles) for undergraduate and graduate programs. Fee tables are published for different programs and student categories.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Universidad de las Artes is Ecuador's first public higher education institution dedicated to the arts. It delivers undergraduate (licenciatura) and graduate (maestría) degree programs across artistic disciplines including Visual Arts, Cinema, Theater, Dance, Literature, Musical and Sound Arts, Intercultural Artistic Education, and Culture and Arts Management. The university combines classroom instruction with a virtual campus, an academic management system, a specialized library (including the Mesías Maiguashca archive), and a publishing division (UArtes Ediciones).

Product overview

Universidad de las Artes is Ecuador's first public higher education institution specializing in arts. The university operates a platform-based academic model offering 8 undergraduate programs (licenciaturas) and 6 graduate programs (maestrías) across disciplines including Visual Arts, Film, Theater, Dance, Literature, Intercultural Artistic Education, Musical and Sound Production, and Sound Arts. Supporting infrastructure includes the Library of the Arts (Biblioteca de las Artes) for academic resources, the Virtual Campus (Campus Virtual) for distance learning delivery, the Academic Management System (SGA) for student administration, and UArtes Ediciones for scholarly publishing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Licenciatura en Artes Visuales Undergraduate degree program in Visual Arts for prospective students seeking a licenciatura in visual artistic practice and theory.
• Licenciatura en Cine Undergraduate degree program in Film/Cinema preparing students in cinematic arts, production, and theory.
• Licenciatura en Creación Teatral Undergraduate degree program in Theatrical Creation focused on stage arts, performance, and theatrical practice.
• Licenciatura en Danza Undergraduate degree program in Dance for students pursuing professional training in dance disciplines.
• Licenciatura en Literatura Undergraduate degree program in Literature for students pursuing literary studies, creative writing, and literary theory.
• Licenciatura de Educación Artística Intercultural Undergraduate degree program in Intercultural Artistic Education preparing educators in arts pedagogy with a cultural focus.
• Licenciatura en Producción Musical y Sonora Undergraduate degree program in Musical and Sound Production training students in audio production, sound engineering, and musical creation.
• Licenciatura en Artes Musicales y Sonoras Undergraduate degree program in Musical and Sound Arts covering composition, performance, and sonic artistic practice.
• Maestría en Composición Musical y Artes Sonoras Graduate master's program in Musical Composition and Sound Arts for professionals seeking advanced specialization in musical and sound arts.
• Maestría en Cine Documental Graduate master's program in Documentary Film for professionals pursuing advanced training in documentary filmmaking.
• Maestría en Artes Visuales y Nuevos Medios Graduate master's program in Visual Arts and New Media for advanced specialization in contemporary visual arts and digital media.
• Maestría en Artes Escénicas Graduate master's program in Performing Arts for professionals seeking advanced training in stage and performance arts.
• Maestría en Gestión de la Cultura y de las Artes Graduate master's program in Culture and Arts Management training professionals in cultural administration, policy, and arts management.
• Maestría en Escritura Creativa Graduate master's program in Creative Writing for advanced training in literary creation across genres.
• UArtes Ediciones Publishing division of the university producing academic books and publications in arts, culture, and related disciplines.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hosting of major cultural events such as the mMAT (Minga Multimedia de Arte y Tecnología) with international participants

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ESPAM MFL (Escuela Superior Politécnica Agropecuaria de Manabí)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 July 2026UArtes delegation led by Rector Saidel Brito visited ESPAM MFL to learn about digital transformation and educational infrastructure innovation. The visit consolidates inter-institutional cooperation and explores new opportunities for joint work.
• Municipio de GuayaquilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 July 2026Collaboration through Ruta Centro initiative for pedestrianizing streets and recovering public space with artistic, cultural, sports and gastronomic activities. Joint festival for Salsa Day celebration.
• Universidad de GuadalajaracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 July 2026Collaboration meeting with Dr. Ricardo Duarte Méndez, head of Plastic, Visual and Digital Arts at the General Coordination of Extension and Cultural Diffusion of Universidad de Guadalajara, Mexico. Meeting aimed at exploring and defining forms of inter-institutional collaboration in arts and culture.
• UNILA (Universidad Federal de Integración Latinoamericana)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 July 2026Rector Saidel Brito participated in the I Forum of Latin American and Caribbean Rectors at UNILA in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil, invited by the Brazilian Minister of Education.
• Mangle Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 July 2026Citizen initiative of which UArtes is part along with other higher education institutions and business guilds. Planning meetings for young people and universities in the 'Creating Opportunities' methodological route.
• Universidad de CuencaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026Meeting between UArtes and Universidad de Cuenca representatives including secretaries and school directors. Agenda included exchange of experiences on CEISH implementation and student residences.
• Universidad de las Artes de TokiocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2026TURN 2026 artistic and social project strengthening ties between both namesake universities. Both institutions share similar names, specialize in arts, and both are committed to community engagement. The project presents artistic and inclusion activities in Guayaquil.
• CEDIA (Corporación Ecuatoriana para el Desarrollo de la Investigación y la Academia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcuadorian Corporation for the Development of Research and Academia. Representatives participated in UArtes visit to ESPAM MFL. CEDIA organizes the CIO University technology event where institutional transformation cases are presented.
• Museo Nahim Isaías (MNI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on research projects such as 'Rebelde, marginal y revoltoso' exhibition exploring post-dictatorship countercultural manifestations. UArtes students and faculty participate in exhibitions and artistic projects.
• MAAC (Museo Antropológico y de Arte Contemporáneo)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration through projects like 'Arte, mujeres y espacio público' (7th edition) which included activities at MAAC, Museo Nahim Isaías, and UArtes gallery spaces.
• FIL Lima (Feria Internacional del Libro de Lima)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUArtes participated with faculty and student in Ecuador's delegation as guest of honor at FIL Lima 2026 (30th anniversary edition). Literary school participation in international book fair.
• Université Paris-Nanterre and IFEA (Instituto Francés de Estudios Andinos)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizers of the XXVII International Congress of Ecuatorianists held at UArtes, alongside the university's School of Literature.
• Teatro Casa Zona EscenaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTheater venue in Guayaquil hosting student and faculty productions. Venue for performances including 'Cuando la vida' and 'Secreto Matriarcal'.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC): Major U.S. arts institution offering undergraduate and graduate programs across fine arts, design, film, and performance. Comparable comprehensive arts coverage and research-practice integration, anchored in a major urban center similar to Guayaquil.
• California Institute of the Arts (CalArts): U.S. private institution offering conservatory-style training across visual arts, film/video, theater, dance, and music. Comparable multi-discipline arts focus, graduate and undergraduate offerings, and emphasis on artistic practice over traditional academic structures.
• Rhode Island School of Design (RISD): Premier U.S. arts college with strong visual arts, architecture, film, and design programs. Comparable multi-arts curriculum and emphasis on studio-based practice and portfolio development, though private rather than public.
• Universidad Nacional de las Artes (UNA): Argentina's national public university dedicated to the arts, offering programs in visual arts, music, theater, dance, and film. Most direct peer given comparable public-mandate mission, multi-discipline arts coverage, and Latin American context.
• Tokyo University of the Arts (Tokyo Geidai): Japan's leading national arts university, covering fine arts, music, film, and interdisciplinary arts. Direct namesake and active partner of UArtes via the TURN 2026 collaboration, sharing the 'arts university' identity and public-mission ethos.

Regional players

• Universidad de Guadalajara: Large Mexican public university with substantial arts offerings and an active strategic partnership with UArtes. Comparable public-mission scale and Latin American higher-education context, though arts are a subset rather than the full focus.
• Universidad Federal da Integração Latino-Americana (UNILA): Brazilian federal university with a Latin American integration mandate and arts/humanities programs. Partner of UArtes via the I Forum of Latin American Rectors; comparable public-mission, Latin American positioning, and arts engagement.
• Universidad de Cuenca: Ecuadorian public university with arts and humanities programs and an active partnership with UArtes. Direct domestic peer in the same country, sharing the public-mission context and inter-institutional collaboration patterns.

Broad incumbents

• Royal College of Art (RCA): U.K. postgraduate-only public arts university with global brand recognition across design, fine arts, and humanities. Comparable postgraduate specialization and public-mission ethos, though operating at a much larger international scale.
• Tisch School of the Arts (NYU): U.S. arts school within NYU offering programs in film, theater, television, and emerging media. Comparable graduate/undergraduate arts curriculum structure, though embedded within a broader comprehensive university rather than a standalone arts institution.

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/uartesec
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCCwGt79qBxZtX_WQfmrsiJw
• Facebookfacebook.com/uartesec
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uartesec
• Instagraminstagram.com/uartesec
• TikToktiktok.com/@uartesec?lang=es

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Universidad de las Artes