Culture with you
Season 2024-2025
The Círculo de Bellas Artes launches its 2024/25 season under the motto ‘Cultura Contigo’, reaffirming our idea of a shared and participatory culture, where debate, reflection and collaboration are essential to face today’s challenges. This approach extends to multiple disciplines such as science, medicine and education, in an effort to offer innovative solutions to complex problems such as climate change. In addition, the motto is our thanks to all those who make our programming possible, from institutions and partners to the public who year after year support our activities.
We have structured the season around four main themes, starting with the climate crisis. We propose to imagine a ‘Planet C’ (in a nod to the phrase ‘There is no Planet B’), in which Criticism, Commitment, Citizenship, Science and Culture are protagonists in the search for solutions to climate change. This ecological concern is reflected in our Climate Shelter, a space created as an oasis for citizens in the face of high temperatures, which has also offered activities such as free workshops.
Our environmental commitment continues with exhibitions such as HiperObjetos, which explores the impact of technology on the environment; Álvaro Soler-Arpa’s Especies Mensajeras, which examines the relationship between nature and toxic agents; and La Mayor Emergencia, which brings together works by contemporary artists seeking responses to climate emergencies. In parallel, the Autumn Climate cycle, organised with the Autonomous University of Madrid, includes workshops, conferences and debates focusing on the ecological and social impact of digitalisation, while Climate of Change offers a space to discuss the challenges of global change. The Science, Medicine and Humanism series, together with the Lilly Foundation, highlights the alliance between science and culture to tackle these problems.
The second axis, Dream and Desire, is inspired by the centenary of André Breton’s Surrealist Manifesto. Our programming explores the power of the imagination, the subconscious and surrealism with exhibitions dedicated to Max Ernst and Salvador Dalí. In addition, we continue with activities as part of Kafka Year, commemorating the centenary of the writer’s death. We will organise lectures, readings and screenings in collaboration with universities such as the Complutense University of Madrid.
The third pillar of our programme is the Festival of Ideas, which aims to bring critical thinking to the streets of Madrid. This festival, created in collaboration with La Fábrica, invites citizens to a great joint reflection on current issues. Catharsis’ is the central concept of the first edition of the festival, which proposes to slow down the fast pace of modern life to encourage reflection and understanding in a world marked by uncertainty. The festival will feature figures such as Eva Illouz, Byung-Chul Han and Michael Sandel, who will participate in round tables, speakers’ corners, and other activities. Among the highlights is the ‘Night of Franco-German Thought’, in collaboration with the embassies of these countries.
Finally, we celebrated the tenth anniversary of the SUR School, an institution that has become a reference in the national and international art world. Through our training offer, such as the Master’s Degree in Lifelong Learning in Arts and Artistic Professions, we have established ourselves as an artistic laboratory where theory and practice are integrated. In addition, the school has developed an extensive network of collaborators, teachers and students, fostering the creative talent that will nurture the artistic scene in the coming years.
In addition to these thematic blocks, we continue to offer our already consolidated programmes, such as Círculo de Cámara and Jazz Círculo, as well as new events such as the Festival Iberoamericano de Creación Sonora and the Grandes Oyentes cycle, dedicated to music for children from 0 to 4 years old. We also maintain the Madrid31 workshops and the EÑE Festival, with the theme of Democracy as the central theme in 2024.
Over the coming months, we propose a programme rich in cultural, educational and artistic activities that invite reflection, debate and the joint creation of a fairer and more responsible society. With ‘Cultura Contigo’, we reaffirm our commitment to continue to be a space of encounter and cultural growth for all.