Activities

2022

4th Edition of the Finnish Film Festival in Madrid

In October 2022, Hug Culture organized the fourth Finnish film festival in Hortaleza, together with the cultural association Give us time, in the Josef Arquero Gardens. The programmer of the festival was Diego Giartes. The poster was designed by Finnish visual artist Riika Gröndahl. On this occasion the theme focused on the problem of climate change; We will present a short film by video artist Sara Pathirane, Holding Clouds, and a documentary, How to kill a cloud, by Tuija Halttunen. Sponsored by the Ibero-American Institute of Finland in Madrid.

2022

Ambiens, Ambions and Ambas exhibition by Timo Ryhänen

Our artist-in-residence, Timo Ryhänen, exhibited his digital work in Galería Nueva during the month of May. Timo’s own world had a great reception within the cultural scene of Madrid.

2021

Urban art workshop in Manoteras

On December 12, we developed an artistic intervention of urban art on the facade of the Manoteras Shopping Center, in Madrid. Together with the artist Hugo González Aroca, with a spray technique, the artist made an intervention that showed the day to day inside the market. It was carried out within the PIBA plans.

2021

3rd Edition of the Finnish Film Festival in Madrid

In October 2021 Hug Culture organized the third Finnish film festival in Hortaleza, at the Carril del Conde Cultural Center. The programmer of the festival was Diego Ginartes. The poster was designed by Finnish visual artist Riika Gröndahl. This time the theme focused on the problem of the Sami people, in northern Finland; We will present two short films by video artist Marja Viitahuhta, Ask the foremothers and Dreamscapes, and a documentary, Eatnameamet-Our silent struggle, by Suvi West. Sponsored by the Ibero-American Institute of Finland in Madrid.

2021

Sauna Talks

Series of five online interviews entitled “Sustainable art, an imminent need
Sustainable art, an imminent need”, from the Ibero-American Institute of Finland in Madrid. In these talks we had the participation of five Finnish cultural agents and artists committed to the environment: Sari Torvinen, Juha Huuskonen, Sari Koski-Vähälä, Mia Makela and Iines Karkulahti.

2021

Knight of the Order of the Lion of Finland Decoration

In June 2021, the representative of the association collected from the hands of the then Finnish Ambassador to Spain, Tiina Jortika-Laitinen, the Knight of the Order of the Lion of Finland, has been proposed by the President of Finland Sauli Niinistö. This was a very important recognition for the entire team and the work carried out during these years.

2020

Urban art workshop at the UVA of Hortaleza

On December 18, in the local “Espacio Fray”, the association held a session of theoretical-practical initiation on history, materials and techniques of graffiti and mural painting; Furthermore, on December 19 and 20, at CEPA Dulce Chacón, a collaborative mural painting was made on one of the facades of the center. It was carried out within the PIBA plans.

2020

Workshop to encourage reading and Joulupukki mural painting in Manoteras

On December 12 and 13, 2020, thanks to the PIBA plans. The figure of Santa Claus was known through his stories, he was heard, and the participating boys and girls were able to write him a postcard with his Christmas wishes. In addition, the Horticultural artist Sara Flórez, designed a participatory artistic intervention of mural painting in the San Benito Municipal Center for the Elderly.

2020

2nd Edition of the Finnish Film Festival in Madrid

In October 2020 Hug Culture organized the second Finnish film festival in Hortaleza, led by Danos Tiempo, in the courtyard of the Orcam Fundación Orquesta y Coro de Madrid. Diego Ginartes, director of Cinemaissi, selected the films. Hosted by Ibero-American Institute of Finland in Madrid.

2020

2nd Edition of the Finnish Film Festival in Madrid

In October 2020 Hug Culture organized the second Finnish film festival in Hortaleza, led by Danos Tiempo, in the courtyard of the Orcam Fundación Orquesta y Coro de Madrid. Diego Ginartes, director of Cinemaissi, selected the films. Hosted by Ibero-American Institute of Finland in Madrid.

2020

Physical exhibition at the Ibero-American Institute of Finland in Madrid

“Meeting point”: Leonor’s exhibition could be organized and visited, in person, during the months of September and October at the institute’s headquarters.

2020

Virtual exhibition “Meeting point” at the Iberoamerican Institute of Finland in Madrid

The artist in residence Leonor Ruiz Dubrovin, during the months of January to May, ended her stay with the presentation of an exhibition in online format, due to the exceptional situation of the Covid-19.

2019

Jaap Klevering’s sound concert in the Danos Tiempo space, Hortaleza

Once again, as a sign of good attunement with the associative and cultural fabric of Hortaleza, Jaap selflessly offered a concert for all audiences. With vocal sounds, nature-based sound manipulation, loop …

2019

Workshop of stimulation of the senses in the Mental Health Center of the district of Hortaleza

The sound artist Jaap Klevering carried out, with our collaboration, the Sounds Cafe project, in the cafeteria of the Iberoamerican Institute of Finland in Madrid, focused on demonstrating the therapeutic and healthy benefits of certain types of sounds in the public. As an extension of this project, Jaap proposed that we carry out a specific intervention with a group of patients in mental rehabilitation, for which we had the full collaboration of the management and the team of occupational therapists at the Hortaleza Mental Health Center.

2019

Finnish Film Festival

In October 2019 Hug Culture organized the first Finnish film festival in Hortaleza, in the auditorium of the Carril del Conde Cultural Center. The films were selected by the director of Cinemaissi, Diego Ginartes.

2019

Workshop “Superheroine” in the Equality Space Carme Chacón

At the end of her residence, the Finnish artist in residence during September and October, Margarita Rosselló, carried out this workshop that combined painting, sewing, photography and drawing.

2019

Participation in the Spring Festival of the Hortaleza district

Once again, THE HUG coordinated an artistic intervention at the Pilar García Peña Auditorium during their parties. In this case it was the concrete structures in front of the stage. We have the artist from Hortaleza, Sara Flórez. It was a collaborative project, so that the neighbors helped make the paintings.

2019

Workshop “Hidden Letters” in the Equality Space Carme Chacón

On this occasion, the artist-in-residence, Sofia Eriksson, proposed a meeting space for women to reflect on the power of our own words. In addition, during her stay in Sofia, she performed a musical collaboration in the presentation of the book Ladies anonymous, in the Danos Tiempo space in Hortaleza.

2019

Participation of Riikka Gröndahl in the selection jury for the final poster of the Hortaleza Spring Festival

On the proposal of the Hortaleza District Equality Table.

2019

Workshop “Silent Portraits” in the Equality Space Carme Chacón

Artist in residence Riikka Gröndahl held a video and text workshop with a group of women from the district’s Equality Space

2019

Public presentation of the work carried out by Alberto Pina at his residence Artistic in Finland

The Hortaleza artist made an open presentation to Hortaleza residents in our residence, based on the work process and their experience during the two months in Finland, accompanied by a small exhibition of drawings made. Subsequently, in October, Alberto held a solo exhibition at the Iberoamerican Institute of Finland in Madrid, entitled Life and Nature, within the context of the Art+wellness, seminar organized by this institution in collaboration with Kulttuurikauppila and THE HUG.

2018

Open studio of the Finnish artist in residence Ulla Prami

It is usual that at the end of each residence, the artist shares with the neighbors an exhibition of her work done in our residence. It is a good opportunity to offer in the district, outside the central almond, a quality cultural proposal.

2018

Workshop “My place” in the Equality Space Carme Chacón

We always try to collaborate with the cultural and associative fabric of the district. Thus, at the end of his two and a half months of residence, Mirjami Tölli and Vera Enkvist, the first collaborative project with the Equality Space was produced. They carried out a workshop to compose a mural using the photo-transparency technique. A mural that has remained a permanent work in space.

2018

Coordination of the Hortaleza Artists Meeting

During the 2018 Associations Fair, and with the help of the Cultural Table of the Hortaleza district, THE HUG promoted a meeting of artists from Hortaleza. It was the first meeting of these characteristics in order to create a database, collaborate and create artistic fabric.

2018

Coordination of the municipal project Compartiendo Muros in the district of Hortaleza

THE HUG coordinated the artistic intervention of the rear walls of the Pilar García Peña Auditorium during its festivals. For this he brought in a Finnish artist, Klaara Nieminen, to collaborate with other artists from the district in said intervention. It was a collaborative project, so that the neighbors helped to make the murals.

2018

Open studio of Finnish artists in residence Mirjami Tölli and Vera Enkvist

It is usual that at the end of each residence, the artist shares with the neighbors an exhibition of her work done in our residence. It is a good opportunity to offer in the district, outside the central almond, a quality cultural proposal.

2018

Participation in the Spring Festival of the Hortaleza district

THE HUG coordinated the artistic intervention of the rear walls of the Pilar García Peña Auditorium during its festivals. For this he brought in a Finnish artist, Klaara Nieminen, to collaborate with other artists from the district in said intervention: S2 Collective, Alberto Pina and Los Meneos Collective. It was a collaborative project, so that the neighbors helped to make the murals.

2018

Presentation of the project in Finland

In April 2018, the Hug Culture team traveled to Helsinki for a week to present the artistic residency project. With the support of the Spanish Embassy in Finland, a presentation was given in the Globe Art Point space, in addition to organizing professional meetings with some of the artistic network in Helsinki.

2017

“Finnish experimental music (with explanations and comments) [suomen kokeellinen musiikki (selityksineen ja kommentteineen)]”

Toni Ledentsa participated in the general coordination of the project and directed some of the parallel activities organized for the exhibition “Finnish experimental music”, curated by Víctor Aguado, at Espacio Trapèzio.

2017

Crowdfunding campaign

At the end of July 2017, Hug Culture successfully managed to carry out a campaign of micropatronage, exceeded the object marked at € 2,500 thanks to the support of 65 donors. The campaign entitled “Embrace the cooperative culture. THE HUG Space” was designed to adapt the headquarters as a work space and artist residence. We have recently adapted our space to begin the residency program from January 2018.

2017

THE HUG participated in the Wheel Culture initiative

For THE HUG it is very important to develop synergies with the artistic and associative fabric of the Hortaleza district. For this reason, we organized a children’s workshop in the Danos Tiempo cultural space. Where the Finnish idea of connection with nature was shared.

2017

Workshop “Mökki” in the cultural space Danos Tiempo

For THE HUG it is very important to develop synergies with the artistic and associative fabric of the Hortaleza district. For this reason, we organized a children’s workshop in the Danos Tiempo cultural space. Where the Finnish idea of connection with nature was shared.

2017

Exhibition “Taite” by Johanna Alanko at the Official School of Languages Jesús Maestro

On the occasion of the centenary celebrations of the independence of Finland, THE HUG organized an individual exhibition by Johanna Alanko at an official language school.

2017

Round table at the UCM Faculty of Fine Arts, in the space “La Trasera”

In January THE HUG organized a round table entitled “Academic Options and Career Opportunities in Finland” attended by speakers such as Eva Hannikainen, Luisa Gutiérrez, José Carlos Espinel, Adriana Berges and Johanna Alanko.

2017

Exhibition in the coworking space La Quinta del Sordo

As part of the immersion program, Johanna Alanko was able to hold a solo exhibition in the exhibition space of the coworking space. Johanna produced many works of art, which could be seen for two weeks.

2017

Collaboration with the students of the IES Conde de Orgaz

During her three months of artistic residency, Johanna Alanko had the opportunity to collaborate in the development of performances and in the assembly of the final exhibition with the students of the institute. In addition, he introduced the most innovative contemporary art in Finland to students of different ages.

2016

Residencies Reflected Symposium

Hug Culture was selected to participate, from November 16th to 18th, 2016, at the Residencies Reflected International Symposium in Helsinki, Finland. A symposium co-organized by the Academy of Fine Arts, University of the Arts Helsinki, HIAP and Frame, with the support of the KONE Foundation. The Residencies Reflected aims to rethink the definition of current artist residences. Conceived as spaces for artistic creation, ways of recreating residences were discussed, also as spaces for meditation, around the new practices and social relations of the growing globalization.

2015

Winter meeting

In February 2015 we held a winter meeting at the Ibero-American Institute of Finland, with the support of the Finnish Embassy. Future projects were presented, which were reflected in online connections with Finnish managers and collectives. A final performance was held by the sound artist Victor Aguado.

2014

Intransit

Hug Culture was chosen to give a lecture during the 2014 edition of Intransit, at the Complutense Art Center at the Complutense University of Madrid. Intransit is a platform for public confrontation of artistic and social discourses, working as a framework that welcomes people and groups related to the different fields of creation, research and artistic production.

2014

Mustarinda’s participation in the Wetraders forum, in Matadero Madrid

The four members that we received in our first artistic residency program had the opportunity to present their ideas on culture and politics at a round table within this event.

2014

Mustarinda collective exhibition at Espacio Trapèzio, Madrid

With the support of FRAME and in collaboration with Espacio Trapèzio, taking advantage of the fact that Finland was the guest country in the ARCO 2014 edition, an exhibition of a selection of works by artists from that group was held, in which THE HUG acted as mediator and host of the collective.