mARTadero Project

Founded in 2004 in Cochabamba, Bolivia
Director: Fernando José Garcia Barros

As a comprehensive project for the development of arts and culture towards social change, we work for social development through art and culture, doing so through 7 areas of artistic creation and 7 social development programs, both based on 7 principles. Each of the strategies we implement is in turn based on 3 pillars:

-Space: the architectural space of the former slaughterhouse: 3,000 m² built in 1924, with its clear patrimonial character and awaiting declaration as heritage, expresses the yearning for progress which is typical of turn of the century industrial architecture. A unique, flexible and well-defined space which is decentralized, socially and geographically strategic, and in keeping with the logic and the needs of emerging arts. It has been lent for use for 30 years to NADA for the self-managed development of the project.

-Cultural management: a multidisciplinary and open professional team with a deep command of intercultural promotion in the local, national and international sphere. An autonomous group working on an assembly basis; well-structured, focused on obtaining results that are clear and pertinent for society; capable of renewing itself and adjusting to contemporary standards; convinced of the advantages of staying connected, networking and reaching a consensus regarding the Culture of the Future.

-The principles: seven maxims founded upon the clear objectives of innovation, research, experimentation; proposing conceptual and formal stringency, integration, exchange and interculturality as the criteria to be applied to all the proposals that are generated, supported or organized by the project. These principles convey the project’s core values and communicate our belief in the potential for creating a better future.

To see information about the mARTadero residencies program, click here