Under the hat...

With support from EU's Grundtvig Programme and GAIA Museum Outsider Art, I have gone to Madrid for 14 days to visit and study the different programmes of the organisation Debajo del Sombrero.

Since its foundation in 2007 Debajo del Sombrero has existed to provide a platform for people with learning disabilities to be involved in and have access to artistic and cultural activities. The organisation has different programmes around Madrid that focus on the integration of special needs groups in the contemporary scene of art training, production and consumption. It is devoted to make visible the diversity of artistic expression and explore innovative ways of combining the skills of artists with and without disabilities. During my visit in Madrid I will be job-shadowing at the different programmes and study the motivation behind and objectives of the project.

This spring Maria Linaza who is working as an arts facilitator at Debajo del Sombrero, visited GAIA Museum for 2 months and took part in the daily practice of the museum's 3 year long art education for youths with special needs, GAIA Academy. During this time Maria followed the education's programme and contributed with her practical knowledge and experience in the observation and guidance of the students' artistic expression and development. Maria's visit at GAIA Museum will together with my visit in Madrid provide an exchange of our different practices that can be used in future international collaboration concerning methodology development within this particular field.

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DAY 1:  After cafe con leche and porras at the local cafeteria I went to visit one of Debajo del Sombrero's art programmes at MATADERO, the old slaughterhouse of Madrid that has been transformed into a new centre for contemporary creation. Here I met some of the people behind the project, Lola Barrera, Luíz Sáez, Isabel Altable and Maria Sol Alvarez. I was shown around the old buildings that were oozing of creative and innovative energy. It was almost like the walls were alive and about to transform into an experimental adventure of cultural experiences - some parts were already well transformed. Viggo Mortensen is doing a play there these days... Read more about MATADERO on the website; http://www.mataderomadrid.org/