CENTRO DE ESTUDIOS CERVANTINOS

The Spanish Ministry of Cultural Affairs, the state (Comunidad Autónoma) of Madrid, the Alcalá de Henares City Council, and the University of Alcalá de Henares came together to create, on the twenty-sixth of October, 1990, the Center for Cervantes Studies (Centro de Estudios Cervantinos or CEC), whose stated purpose is to contribute to the "diffusion and promotion of Cervantes's works and of Spanish narrative and theater in general, and increase cooperation among universities and international bodies."

The statutes of the CEC, whose headquarters are located in the Laredo Palace, Alcalá de Henares, clearly state its objectives: enhance the Cervantine patrimony, protect and disseminate the Spanish language, and stimulate cooperation among researchers and artists. The CEC is conceived as a meeting place as well as a shelter for teaching and research.

The CEC organizes national and international conferences, seminars, courses, and lectures. In addition to publishing, it also prepares reports in response to questions and requests, and, in general, carries out whatever activities are in line with its objectives.