El Rusc de Gracia
Every individual is potentially creative.
Every individual is part of a community.
Every community needs creative individuals.
Who We Are – Gracia Arts Project
Gracia Arts Project (GAP), the seed of El Rusc, is an independent, non-profit artists' association, whose aim is to support all artistic endeavors, to share information and ideas, to collaborate, and to actively integrate artists from all nations. We operate in Castilian, Catalan, and English.
Since opening our 'versatile space' early in 2006, we have exhibited no less than 62 artists in 36 individual, group or mixed media events. GAP has also produced 4 short movies, published a book of poetry and hosted many musical and cultural events.
The current GAP website boasts 140 artist profiles. These profiles are used by artists to introduce themselves and examples of their work to the GAP and the global on-line community. Artists come from Catalonia, Spain, Europe and beyond with their work arranged according to discipline: fine art, photography, music, performance, design, writing and film. Membership is increasing rapidly with new applications received every week.
‘Inspiration exists but it has to find us working.’ Tapies
Our Aims – El Rusc de Gracia
For us at GAP, however, we need more than the gallery space we currently have at Sant Honorat No.11. Firstly, we have grown so much over the last two years that we cannot comfortably accommodate all our artists in this small gallery. We would like to help our members by providing them with the space and the resources to teach their skills, sell their work and present their art to a wider audience.
Secondly, we have discovered Barcelona's great need to provide multi-disciplinary, multi-lingual art instruction in a single building. We believe creativity can aid understanding and learning and that a linguistic approach can advance integration in a multicultural society.
Despite being a diverse group of artists and art-lovers, we have a single vision: to design, build and run an educational center for the arts in Barcelona. Our center will “house”over 300 artists working in all disciplines. These artists will not only produce and exhibit their work at El Rusc but will simultaneously share their skills with the community via hands-on classes and workshops. We will actively encourage Catalan, Spanish and foreign residents to become members, as we do at GAP, and classes will be provided in at least three languages
The El Rusc building will contain the following key facilities: one or several gallery spaces, a cinema, film studio, recording studio, dark room, pottery studio, painting studio, library, dance studio, music rooms, theatre, computer lab, classrooms, language lab, kitchen, dining area, toilets and showers. The El Rusc building will be as ecologically friendly and self-sufficient as possible.
Why Barcelona?
Barcelona is a multicultural city with two official languages and multiple enclaves of others. It has a deep history of art, trade, tradition and diversity. We have found inspiration in Gaudi’s integration of nature in construction; in Pau Casals’ innovative classical music style; in the openness to the foreign perspectives of George Orwell and Hemmingway. And just as Barcelona is mountain, sea, and city all existing together, the intention of El Rusc is to unite artists from different disciplines and with different nationalities through the common focus of art and creativity.
The Barrio.
As a community of artists currently developing a practical philosophy for the arts, we feel the area of Gracia exemplifies our needs. Gracia is near the centre of Barcelona and is well known for its strong sense of community and artistic atmosphere. We are, however, open to exploring other areas with similar qualities and are particularly interested in neighbourhoods where open access to the arts might be lacking.
‘Perhaps no place in any community is so totally democratic as the library. The only interest requirement is interest.’ Lady Bird Johnson.
We would like El Rusc to provide access to art in the same way that a library offers access to books. We believe that creative workshops, courses and material should be available to all ages, all levels and all economic backgrounds.
‘All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once you grow up.’ Picasso
Our Vision
El Rusc will be a hive of activity. A place where members and non-members alike will feel welcome and comfortable by the idea of art and artists. It will be a place centred on community with a reputation for quality and integrity.
El Rusc finds its inspiration in Barcelona itself and aims to contribute to the city becoming a world leader in community arts. It will tackle the complex question of why children should grow up loving, respecting and supporting the arts; provide a platform for the numerous regional, national and international artists attracted to this innovative city; and offer solutions for integrating diverse communities through creative communication.
El Rusc is a city project, a community project but, above all, a people project.
‘I do not want art for a few, anymore than I want freedom for a few or education for a few.’ William Morris