Valencian Merchants’ Athenaeum, which borns in 1879 for “attending the cultural and training needs, in their job, of the clercks of commerce” is a non-profit body which activity consist of the recover, keeping, promotion and spread of the historical and cultural Valencian heritage. Within the ends of this society stands out its contribution through courses, conferences and other means, to the cultural development of its members and of the citizens.

Is this effort in attending the cultural needs of society, that has moved the institution to set up an agreement for the creation of the Athenaeum Chair which objective is to carry out a programme of cultural activities and of university extension offering this was a wide and diverse teaching activity, appropriated to a society in permanent adaptation and continual change for which the citizen requires an immediate response capability.

The Foundation of the Athenaeum of the Valencian Community begins the Athenaeum Chair as a channel for the dialogue and training, it is an open forum to the arts, sciences, technology, economy, humanities and just every field that encompasses the human knowledge.

The Athenaeum Chair takes on its firsts steps shouldered by an agreement of cooperation between the University “Miguel Hernández” and the Valencian Merchants’ Athenaeum.During the year 2003 a similar agreement was signed with the University of Valencia-General Studies. The courses offered in virtue of these agreements have been recognised as free elective for students of the following universities:

• University of Valencia
• University “Miguel Hernández”
• Polytechnic University of Valencia
• University “Cardenal Herrera”
• CEUCatholic University “San Vicente Mártir”
• University of the Balearic Islands

Director: Prof. Dr. José María Estrela Arigüel