Drap-Art'22 In the Gothic Neighborhood! International Festival of Sustainable Art of Catalonia
Involving neighbors, citizens, tourists, artlovers and an international network of designers, craftspeople, artists and thinkers in discussing, reflecting on and promoting values of sustainability through art, invading the historic city center of Barcelona with a cultural circuit of exhibitions in emblematic spaces, urban art and interventions, actions and performances in public spaces, creating a dialogue with the rich historic and architectonic heritage of the old city and contemporary art.
Cross-border/international
Spain
Montenegro
Member State(s), Western Balkans and other countries: Greece
Member State(s), Western Balkans and other countries: Hungary
Member State(s), Western Balkans and other countries: Germany
Member State(s), Western Balkans and other countries: France
Member State(s), Western Balkans and other countries: Italy
Member State(s), Western Balkans and other countries: Sweden
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Mainly urban
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
No
No
Yes
2022-12-21
As a representative of an organisation
Name of the organisation(s): Drap-Art Type of organisation: Non-profit organisation First name of representative: Tanja Last name of representative: Grass Gender: Female Nationality: Germany Function: President Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Carrer d'en Groc 1 bx Town: Barcelona Postal code: 08002 Country: Spain Direct Tel:+34 932 68 48 89 E-mail:tanja@drapart.org Website:http://www.drapart.org
URL:https://www.instagram.com/drapart_org/ Social media handle and associated hashtag(s): @drapart #MeetDrapArtist #DrapArtists22 #DrapArtAlGotic #DrapArt #drapart22algòtic
Drap-Art International Festival of Sustainable Art of Catalonia has always defended the fact that nothing disapears, everything transforms with a special focus on social and environmental values of equality and respect.
During the many years of its activity priorities and measures have varied according to the current needs of each year, from creating awareness about the problems of waste, over-consumption, the pollution of the oceans and climate change to the dramas of migratory processes and social inequalities, defending the right to migrate and to cover social and economic needs with dignity. In the last editions the importance of strengthening the community of artists, architects, designers, craftspeople and all creative professionals has gained protagonism, as well as enhancing the sense of community and creativity in the neighborhood and in people in general.
The two constant pillars of its mission are providing a platform where artists, designers, craftspeople, architects and other creative professionals, who work in the fields of sustainability and the reuse of resources, can showcase their works of art and provide environmental education through this art to the general public.
Currently most people are already conscious about the problems we are facing, but many don't want to look them in the eyes, as they don't believe they can change anything, extending a widespread sense of impotence and anxiety or/and excessive hedonism, to distract from it.
We want to end this loop or cut this spiral of impotence, through art, by:
- helping to empower people
- activate their sense of community
- help them listen to their inner voice (inclination, "Berufung")
- loose fear of taking responsibility for their own existence and that of their community
- create economies for these people: markets, sales at exhibitions, online shop, etc.
- network with other organisations
- search dialogue and put pressure on companies and governments to make the change
Art
Sustainability
Transformation
Community
Responsibility
*To innovate the arts aesthetically through the artists' visions that are brought to materiality with elements that were considered "waste" in the popular view of the citizens in general.
*To motivate their own communities to exercise creativity and open the conversation about the perception we have about waste management and the habits that this perception produces as a consequence.
*Create important voices that allow us to understand the situation of the present and the future: the artists of Drap Art have chosen mostly atypical lifestyles, more sustainable and this is what they seek to express through their works, we give visibility to the voices that speak about our relationship with the environment and how the link between ourselves works as a whole, this allows us to understand where we stand today, where we can innovate, helps us to find solutions through creativity giving rise to dialogue from different voices.
*By bringing people together into open dialogue and making sustainable actions. During the exhibitions, people were engaged through the art pieces being displayed, through the lens of the artivists. This not only creates ideas for the community but a potential multicultural and intergenerational exchange between people who are participating in the exhibitions as well as the artists.
*By changing the minds and perceptions through the artworks, spreading positivity and energy. Additionally by engaging people in the perception of the artists’ artworks.
*Imagine cultural discourse through an international context. By creating a network of artists that uses sustainability around the world. The solutions mentioned in the previous point correlate with those in this point, reimagining the cultural discourse is to reshape our identity in the present to project new ways of living for the next generations.
The project has inspired many similar projects in different parts of the world, such as the Circular Society in Grmany, the RE:New Festival in the US
*Provide an aesthetic experience of high quality art that leaves a positive impact on the viewers.
*Act as a tool of social transformation: art is an important tool of social transformation, which is now more urgent than ever, with the climate emergency clearly heading towards extinction. Fuel prices are skyrocketing and the harvest is likely to be bad, so here too we will see a price increase, and probably there will even be a food shortage. If we do not want this to result in total chaos, it is very important to give voice to artists and culture, so that we can put our grain of sand to maintain some social cohesion and sanity.
*Not disregard the power of culture to emerge from crisis situations and maintain a sense of humanity in the face of barbarism. Drap-Art not only values and makes artists visible, but also reproduces and insists on the urgency of this message to be aware of current consumption problems and to undertake from creativity solutions to achieve a good life, not only to benefit the lives of people but also the planet and all the beings that inhabit it.
*To have a positive impact on younger generations, sustainable artists, and people interested in taking action to raise awareness of environmental and social problems, to reflect on and find innovative and resilient solutions to these problems through art and culture. That's why we collaborate with elementary schools and universities not only during the festival but also by giving them green workshops and talks during the whole year.
*Explain the urgency of art as a tool of social transformation to awaken and take action on the problems that are affecting life on our planet.
*Showing how with creativity and inventiveness it is possible to live with less and yet with more beauty and satisfaction
*Promoting the culture of sufficiency that gives you much more freedom and time as you are not trapped into the need of covering the cost of consumer goods you don't really need.
All matter is present in our daily lives. Science has been fundamental for the understanding of our body and our existence, but this technological age has generated a disconnection and a misunderstanding of how we perceive our life experience. All matter that is part of our reality, everything we see and touch, is important because it is present in the reality that we are creating and perceiving. Appreciating our own lives means appreciating everything that surrounds us, even simple things like making the bed, washing the dishes, and leaving the clothes carefully on the chair. To use and take care of everything as much as we can is fundamental for a harmonious existence. The idea of mass consumption makes not only the environment sick but also our psique, our life situation, and our relationship with the human experience. We must be aware that everything is a part of our experience and treat it as an extension of our body, thus understanding that everything is life and cannot be discarded; it must be valued. If we value our lives, we will value everything in order to create a healthier global and holistic society for this planet, conscious of the fact that we all need to live in harmony and that everyone's needs must be met without harming the environment, and implementing a donut economy, see Kate Raworth, "Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st-Century Economist".
One of Drap-Art's characteristics is its attraction to a great variety of people: artists, designers, architects, handcrafters participating or interested in participating, neighbors and citizens of Barcelona of all age groups and social backgrounds, a more specialized public interested in art and environmental issues from Barcelona and from the rest of the world that travel to Barcelona for the festival or follow it on social media.
It is important to us that we continue to provide this opportunity to the public by providing free admission, as we have been doing since 1996.
*Art acts as a catalyst, in our current society, it is time to make known the possibilities that art offers to us, through it, we can understand ourselves and others better.
*The cultural and artistic interest of this project is the basis of its existence, not only because of its outstanding trajectory as a Festival, but also because of the constant creation of projects that promote and make visible the social transformation produced by this type of event and environmental awareness exercise.
Besides, the social return is not only with the city, which is important, because the Gothic Quarter is promoted, but there is also a return at an international level through our social media audience fidelity, which include followers from the festivals that Drap-Art has carried out on the international level. Drap-Art has been present in more than 16 countries and after 24 years of activity the project was extended to the Americas, with regular activities in Barcelona, Montevideo, and Pittsburgh, and since 2017 also in Buenos Aires, disseminating the work of more than 780 artists and carrying out awareness activities for all audiences.
*The Festival brings people together in an open dialogue and realises sustainable actions. During the exhibitions, people from all over the world get involved through the art pieces shown through the lens of the artists. This not only creates ideas for the community, but creates a potential multicultural and intergenerational exchange between the people participating in the exhibitions as well as the artists. It allows cultural discourse to be imagined through an international context by creating a network of artists using sustainability around the world. Reimagining cultural discourse is reshaping our identity in the present to project new ways of life for the next generations and this is what the Festival has been generating for more than 25 years.
On the local level we work with assemblies of the members of the association in which we decide on the objectives we want to achieve and the projects we want to implement to achieve them.
On the regional, national and European level we work with a network partners in the different localities in which we want to implement projects, who in their turn involve local agents and artists and engage them around local problems or needs of the community we can try to solve using art as a tool for social transformation and a means to facilitate the interchange of ideas and reflexions.
Drap-Art collaborates habitually with the following:
- Associació d'Amics i Comerciants de la plaça Reial, a non profit organisation of local businesses, basically hotels, restaurants and bars located in the plaza Real.
We do joined activities involving the members of both our associations at plaza Real, such as the Market and the Upcycling Competition.
- Villa del Arte Galleries - including the gallery's artists in our festival and proposing Drap Art artists to exhibit at the gallery.
- El Borsí per al Barri a neighborhood organisation reclaiming an emblematic building that was a traditional art school for cultural activities of the neighbors
We do joined activities that favor this goal.
- Reial Cercle Artistic: provides exhibition spaces for the festival and promotes it in their communication campeigns
- Scools of the neighborhood: we impart extracurricular sustainable art courses to the school children
- Citadellarte: we promote the Rebirth Day and in general Michelangelo Pistoletto's Philosophy of the Third Paradise (http://terzoparadiso.org/en/)
- Espronceda Institute for Art & Culture: cocuration of artists and projects
- Cuixart Foundation: joined projects to promote the oeuvre of Modest Cuixart
We also do surveys among our followers through newsletters and social media to discover what their needs are and feedback to what we offer them.
Visual artists: artworks created for the exhibition that brought up the discussion about current social issues, such as manipulation and excesive control, contamination of the oceans, climate change, migration, the need to find a balance, to listen to your inner voice.
Designers: everyday objects in the exhibition such as chairs, lamps, clothing with a specially creative aesthetics and made from reused materials, showing the value of reusing resources discarded by others and extending their life cycle.
Craftspeople: handcrafted everyday objects made from recycled materials, individual designs and unique pieces of jewelry, bags, decorative objects, etc. showing the value of reusing resources discarded by others and extending their life cycle.
Urban artists and architects: installations in public space that interacted with the passersby and the historic buildings of the old city of Barcelona, springing off the discussion about how we would like our public space to be, bringing art and color into the streets, create a dialgue between architectural historic patrimony and contemporary art
The artists from different fields interacted between each other and with the public in a round table discussion and different artist talks. The added value of these activities was the creation of a sense of community of creative people that feel that together we can achieve things and that the more we spread this feeling of being useful and giving to the community, the more we can achieve.
The Festival works as a catalyst at a cultural level that has a direct impact on the understanding we have of our environment, Drap Art presents a reconceptualization of "waste" through the artists, which brings viewers to think of and implement creative solutions to live with more sustainable routines, as they come to see waste as a resource.
We center the Festival in the Gothic Quarter to strengthen the link with and between the neighbors and mitigate the effect of the exclusively tourist perception of visitors. Through the activation of spaces such as El Borsí we bring the residents closer to the neighborhood and awaken the memory of emblematic spaces while collaborating with the platform of El Borsí and other local entities.
We produce activities of viability at the Market of Artistic Recycling and Sustainable Consumption and the activities of participation and free artistic experimentation in Plaza Reial, for these activities we generate synergy with the entity Associació Plaça Reial.
During the Festival, we have curated exhibitions with free access that open the door to the conversation about our consumption habits and community, we also offer workshops, round tables and spaces for debate so that these concerns can be expressed and shared. This enrichment not only generates an informed citizenry of their environment and consumption habits, but the activities strengthen the bond between people and the neighborhood and lead them to rediscover their own spaces from another point of view, one that points towards community transformation and that is made possible through the relationship between society and art.
In the past editions we have empirically proven that the activities produced by Drap Art revive little inhabited public spaces in the Gothic Quarter (Plaça del Rei, Plaça de la Mercé), at the same time that it creates a route of the neighborhood different from the traditional tourist route, allowing a revaluation of the urban space.
Drap Art is innovative in the sense of grouping together artists, designers, architects, craftspeople, performers and all kinds of creative people whose work is centred around reuse and sustainability. Being one of the pioneers in art and sustainability, with more than 25 years of experience, through the innovation of its projects and artists, it denounces our environmental and social conflicts through transformation and encourages a positive change and innovation, through the following goals:
* To try to transmit that generosity and sharing are important values to achieve change and that it is in itself very gratifying to make a contribution, to give, to share, to grow, etc.
*Encourage reflection and the value of taking the initiative to solve problems creatively.
*To value what we have around us more than what seems inaccessible, and that it can therefore be much easier to meet our needs and find happiness in the little things.
*To learn to observe and act independently, to listen to one's own voice, and to act according to one's own criteria, but to put them in relation to the community and the effect they can have on it, always with respect for others.
*To look for lifestyles that make people happy but have little or no positive impact on the environment, society, or nature.
We organize discussions and seminars to spread knowledge and encourage involvement. We organize projects outside of the festival dates, like beach cleanings, for instance. We try to involve minorities because we believe that teamwork, helping one another, and helping Mother Earth lead to an open and inclusive community. We also hold public events for a younger audience, such as simple craft projects that promote learning about sustainability.
We have our own little gallery and production office which is open to the public and our artists all year around.
We hold assemblies for our members and encourage our public to become members
*The project has already been carried out in other very diverse places, from Montevideo to Pittsburgh, in different formats, always with local partners who have a good knowledge of the site, a wide network of local artists, and are connected to the cultural world of the place.
Experience has shown us that it can be adapted to any site, whether rural or urban, by contacting local partners, local communities of artists, neighborhood organizations, and neighborhood associations to carry out a preliminary study of the needs of these communities and adapt the project to meet them.
*We seek to replicate the format adopted in 2020 with several smaller exhibitions and a route through the Gothic neighborhood (which can be applied to different neighborhoods around the world), as well as inviting visitors to see the exhibitions and the artistic interventions in the urban space to walk and look at the emblematic places of the neighborhood in a new way.
The concerns and reflections that are expressed in the artists' works and that also concern visitors vary over time, and each moment requires a different reflection. Nowadays, it is no longer so important to draw attention to the climate emergency, but rather to offer simple and positive proposals to counteract its negative effects, which everyone can put into practice.
We therefore plan to replicate a form that encourages the active participation of festival visitors with workshops, meetings with artists, lectures, discussion forums, and community art. Above all, it is art in public space that establishes a dialogue between architectural heritage and the cities of the future we want.
We approach challenges such as climate protection and sustainability by regaining the sense of belonging as a community, and with the artists as an example, we amplify the importance of living by applying the culture of sufficiency, learning to be happy living with less, to live more simply, to use and reuse what is at hand, and to reduce waste. Transmit the idea that all materials are valuable resources, even if they are considered waste materials, the importance of consuming responsibly to reduce unnecessary waste production, the need to upcycle as many discarded materials as possible. We create a circular economy by offering artists (often migrants, young people or women and elderly people) sales opportunities in our markets, our gallery and festival exhibitions. We offer a platform for artists, designers, and craftspeople that have already decided to live in a more sustainable way through which to make a living and show others that this is possible, that they don't need to be afraid of losing their jobs, and that they are free to follow their inclinations.
Through art, we address problems such as overconsumption, economic disparities according to gender, or fragile communities, like women, migrants, young and old people, and people from economically and culturally fragile backgrounds. fear of losing secure jobs and choosing one's lifestyle according to inclination and talent, and thus perpetuating an unsustainable social and economic world order full of frustrated citizens. mass manipulation of societies to enhance irreflexive consumption out of frustration, unequal economic systems, and migrational problems caused by classist migration policies. We make room to talk about these issues and raise awareness so we can do something about them.
