1st Meeting of contemporary art in Conil

The Contemporary Art Encounter of Conil is an independent initiative that brings together emerging and established artists in an accessible space, free of elitism and open to all audiences. For several days, the old church of Santa Catalina is transformed into a meeting point for art, community and reflection. Exhibitions, talks, art sales and shared experiences give life to an event that celebrates authentic creativity and connects the public with those who create from passion and truth.

Address:

Santa Catalina Cultural Center, Old church. La Janda – Conil de la frontera.

Date and time:

12/05 to 16/05 – 10:00 to 22:00

17/05 – 10:00 a 18:00

Official Poster

Accessibility

A free event, open to all, that breaks with the exclusionary model of the big fairs. Here art is shown without filters, without economic or symbolic barriers, bringing contemporary creation closer to the people and to those who rarely have access to these spaces.

Protagonism

This meeting is a platform for independent artists who are often left out of the traditional circuit. They are given visibility, space to exhibit and sell their work, and a real opportunity to connect with the public from their creative truth.

History

The former church of Santa Catalina, now converted into an exhibition center, is transformed into a living stage where art and memory dialogue. A symbolic environment that gives strength, beauty and depth to the event, welcoming with dignity the art of our time.

Street Notebook

Aquí encontrarás el calendario completo de actividades, inauguraciones, mesas redondas, visitas guiadas y espacios clave del evento. Pensado como una herramienta práctica y accesible, te acompaña para que no te pierdas ninguna propuesta artística y vivas una experiencia intensa, diversa y comprometida con el arte emergente.

Inauguración	12/05 - 20:00
Ponencia: Vivir y sentir el arte . Por: David Saborido.	17/05 - 11:30
Clausura	17/05 - 18:00

Gens Arte

It is a non-profit organization based in Porto, dedicated to promoting independent art, artistic training and dialogue between communities and creators.

Union

The association Gens Arte, based in Porto, is our special guest in this first meeting. Their commitment to independent and community art connects deeply with the vision of CalleArteMas, creating a cultural bridge between Portugal and Conil de la Frontera.

Guest

inclusion

Gens Arte promotes inclusive projects, workshops, exhibitions and cultural actions that promote art as a social tool. Its participation in Conil brings diversity, experience and an open view of the artistic dialogue between neighboring territories.

Direction and curatorship

The direction and curatorship of the 1st Contemporary Art Encounter of Conil have been key to give coherence, quality and soul to the project. A joint work that balances artistic vision, social commitment and a careful selection of works that represent the best of current independent art.

Sisay Kandengue

Sisay, artist and cultural activist, is the director of the 1st Contemporary Art Encounter of Conil, an initiative born to make independent art visible and without elitist filters.

Susan Valenzuela

Susan, visual artist and curator of the 1st Conil Contemporary Art Encounter, brings her sensitive and committed vision to shape an authentic and diverse selection of works.

David Saborido

David Saborido, curator of the 1st Contemporary Art Encounter of Conil, trained in Fine Arts and with a long career in cultural management, brings experience and a critical eye to the project.

Confirmed artists

Confirmed 100%

A new space for independent art

The 1st Contemporary Art Encounter of Conil was born with the purpose of giving visibility to independent, emerging and authentic art. A proposal promoted by CalleArteMas that aims to break with the elitism of the traditional circuit and bring artistic creation to all people, without economic or symbolic barriers.

Held in the heart of Conil, in the old church of Santa Catalina, this event has had the support of the City Council of Conil de la Frontera, which has provided the space and supported an initiative that seeks to consolidate itself as a benchmark for accessible and committed art.

This first edition brings together national and international artists, participatory activities, workshops and spaces for dialogue that reinforce the role of art as a tool for transformation and social encounter. A seed that we hope to make grow together with the community and with the impulse of those who believe in another way of making art: more open, more human, more real.

Participating countries

Portugal	28
España	18
Angola	2
Holanda	2
Ucrania	1
Alemania	1
Hungria	1
Nigeria	1
Perú	1
Colombia	1
Argentina	1
Francia	1

We begin to build the bridge between art and the people.

Conil welcomes art

Conil welcomes contemporary art

Official guided tour for authorities and guests

The public turned out, as an act of complicity

The press

The numbers of the event

1º Encuentro de Arte Contemporáneo de Conil

Del 12 al 17 de mayo de 2025 - Centro de Exposiciones de Santa Catalina – Conil de la Frontera

Días de montaje	2
Días de desmontaje	1
Voluntarios implicados en montaje, mediación y desmontaje	8
Espacio expositivo activado	400 m²
Presupuesto total estimado	5.800 €
Aporte del Ayuntamiento de Conil	cesión del espacio, producción de vinilos y catering de apertura
Inversión directa de CalleArteMas	4.200 €
Artistas participantes	68
Obras expuestas presenciales	216
Obras expuestas Online	624
Disciplinas representadas	3 ( pintura, escultura y grabado)
Artistas locales y andaluces	32%
Artistas de otras regiones de España, Europa y resto del Mundo	68%
Visitantes presenciales en 6 días	2.300
Visitas diarias promedio	430
Visitas virtual (impresiones)	+ de 1 millón y cien mil
Nuevos seguidores en Instagram	+ de 7 mil
Menciones en medios locales y provinciales (TV la Janda, TV la Tuya, Onda Cádiz TV, Diario de Cádiz, Onda Cero, Radio Juventud, La Voz de Cádiz, entre otros)	12
Proyección futura: 2ª edición	llegar a 100 artistas y 10.000 visitantes presenciales
Ventas	generar ventas presenciales y online
Líneas de mejora	optimizar difusión institucional y ampliar días de exposición
Nuevos aliados buscados	patrocinadores culturales, universidades y espacios expositivos independientes
Valoración del evento	96% de satisfacción entre artistas participantes

Acknowledgement letter

any

years fighting for equality

Dear community

This First Meeting of Contemporary Art in Conil is the realization of a dream that began more than 29 years ago: a dream of equality, opportunities and the fight against elitism in the arts.

I would like to thank everyone who has made this dream possible. To the artists, for their trust and talent; to the volunteers, for their generous dedication; to the curators Susan Valenzuela and David Saborido, for their sensitivity and commitment.

I would also like to thank our guest, the Gens Arte Association of Oporto -Portugal-, artists and management, for their collaboration, and the Direction of Culture of Conil, especially Mr. Francisco Aragón and team, for their constant support.

My most sincere thanks to the City Council of Conil, in the figure of its Mayoress, Mrs. Inmaculada Sánchez Zara, and to the Councilor of Culture, Mrs. Mercedes del Valle Matute, for their institutional support and vision for the future.

Thank you all for believing in this shared dream. CalleArteMas is just beginning.

With affection and respect,

“Art doesn’t just reflect the world, it transforms it. And as long as there are hands that create and hearts that feel, there will always be hope.”

1st Meeting of contemporary art in Conil

Address:

Date and time:

Official Poster

Accessibility

Protagonism

History

Street Notebook

Gens Arte

Union

Guest

inclusion

Direction and curatorship

Sisay Kandengue

Susan Valenzuela

David Saborido

Confirmed artists

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A new space for independent art

Participating countries

We begin to build the bridge between art and the people.

Conil welcomes art

Conil welcomes contemporary art

Official guided tour for authorities and guests

The public turned out, as an act of complicity