The Can Felipa Civic Center (Barcelona, Spain) is a meeting point and reference for residents, working in collaboration with facilities, associations, groups, and entities from the neighborhood, district, and city. On the other hand, Art Nou is the emerging art festival of Barcelona and Hospitalet, offering young national and international creators the chance to establish their first professional connection with the art market, galleries, self-managed spaces, and institutions dedicated to emerging art.
What are your main responsibilities in your current role?
At Art Nou, I work in artistic direction. I handle the management and organization of the festival, as well as the parallel activities that accompany it. At Can Felipa, I am responsible for the visual arts program, which involves managing the annual call that shapes the exhibition season of the gallery. I also oversee and support the projects, as well as manage the mediation activities program.
How has your professional experience prepared you for your current position, and what has been your greatest challenge?
I started as an intern at the MACBA, Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona, and at what used to be the Estrany de la Mota art gallery in Barcelona. I believe I began my career by observing and learning from top professionals who taught me the craft: Teresa Grandas, Àngels de la Mota, and Toni Estrany. I learned a lot by watching them. Sometimes, I find myself doing things the way I saw them approach or tackle. Perhaps the hardest part is considering, every day, that tomorrow I might not be able to continue doing this. It’s a very unique thing and a great privilege.
What inspires you and keeps you informed in a constantly evolving career? What platforms do you use to stay updated?
I try to stay up to date by visiting exhibitions and reviewing the work of colleagues. I also enjoy talking with friends who have visited them and discussing what we liked, as well as exploring where we would like to work or collaborate. Sharing projects and ideas with them is very enriching for me.
What skills do you think have contributed to the success you have achieved in your career today?
I believe that, as in any other job, patience, perseverance, drive, and enthusiasm have been key.
What advice would you give to someone starting their career?
I think the only thing I could say is something I often remind myself of: nothing is that important, nothing means that much, nothing deserves excessive weight. Not winning a specific call or job position doesn’t mean that much; there are many ways to reach your goals, even if it doesn’t seem that way. Hopefully, I can also follow this advice myself.