The Foundation for the Development of Audiovisual Art of the Simon Bolivar University, ARTEVISION-USB, was created in 1988 to contribute to the education of the people of Venezuela through the production of audiovisual and multimedia programmes dealing with technical, artistic, scientific, and cultural matters.
Since its creation, the Foundation has produced a large number of educational, didactic, and entertainment programmes for both national and international organizations. Its productions have covered diverse areas such as art, science and technology, nature and the environment, geography, history, folklore and music among others. ARTEVISION's productions have won important national awards such as "The V of Gold," in 1989; the "Monsignor Pellin Award," in 1990; "The Muse of Gold," in 1990; the "Viart Grand Award," in 1994 and also in 1995; "The Guayanese Toucan," in 2002, as well as international awards at the "Manuel Trujillo Durán Festival," in 1995; the Edinburgh Festival in 1996, and the "RAL Programme 1998."
Since 2002, ARTEVISION has been leading the regular broadcasts of the Simon Bolivar University's television channel, La Simón TV (channel 29, Caracas) geared towards distance education. This channel will open access to training to a large number of people, offering the opportunity to acquire knowledge and specific skills in subjects like information science, administration, languages and marketing, among others. The programmes will be designed to offer users the skills they need to convert a good idea into profitable activity by promoting innovation and an enterprising sopirit in the society. In prime time, "edutainment" will be presented, a concept combining education and entertainment.
ARTEVISION is now producing a didactic series for the teaching of music that will be used by the 5,000 students of the National System of Juvenile and Children's Orchestras.
At the same time, the Foundation also dubbed 81 television programmes on topics relating to sustainable development and the environment belonging to the microMACRO project which involves the participation of associates located in 14 Latin American countries and the British organization, "Television Trust for the Environment," based in London.