On 2 and 3 March 2012, we organized a workshop on “Volunteering in times of crisis”. Spain is among the countries which have been most affected by the current economic crisis with an unemployment rate rising to more than 20%, among young people even more than 40%. During the conference the effects of the crisis on active citizenship and volunteering were discussed. Numerous Spanish experts and representatives of civil society organisations as well as guests from other countries affected by the crisis (Portugal, UK, Italy among others) were present. Visits to current urban projects and a public breakfast in cooperation with breakfast with pedestrians (”Desayuno con Viandantes”) were also part of the agenda.

Further details on the venues and schedule can be found in the agenda of the event.

The conference was organized in the framework of the VIT project which is financed by the European Commission and which deals with volunteering and democracy in an enlarged Europe. It seeks to promote volunteering in various European cities, raising debates on questions of active citizenship and participation. 19 partners – local and regional authorities, NGOs and associations – in the whole of Europe are working together during a period of three years. They will organize a series of conferences and workshops to reflect on how an active citizenship can improve European governance. Through this a platform of debate will be created collecting tools and good practices used by the regional and international actors involved.

Partners of the project:
- The Association of Local Democracy Agencies (lead partner of the project)
- University of Valencia
- Desayuno con Viandantes
- The Association of Belgians living in Valencia
- Arte&facto
- LAMinuscula
- Ineditt Photography
- GA Valencia

Presentations of the event:
- José de Brito, Institute of Childcare, Lisboa, Portugal
- Umit Ozturk, Mediterranean Resource Centre, Reino Unido
- Javier Edo Ausach , Plataforma de Voluntariat Social de la Comunitat Valenciana
- Marco Boaria, ALDA
- Pilar Ortega, Intermón Oxfam
- Dorothee Fischer, RECREATURA_arts&culture

Photos of the event are available on our Facebook page!

Further details on the venues and schedule can be found in the agenda of the event.

The conference was organized in the framework of the VIT project which is financed by the European Commission and which deals with volunteering and democracy in an enlarged Europe. It seeks to promote volunteering in various European cities, raising debates on questions of active citizenship and participation. 19 partners – local and regional authorities, NGOs and associations – in the whole of Europe are working together during a period of three years. They will organize a series of conferences and workshops to reflect on how an active citizenship can improve European governance. Through this a platform of debate will be created collecting tools and good practices used by the regional and international actors involved.

Partners of the project:
- The Association of Local Democracy Agencies (lead partner of the project)
- University of Valencia
- Desayuno con Viandantes
- The Association of Belgians living in Valencia
- Arte&facto
- LAMinuscula
- Ineditt Photography
- GA Valencia

Presentations of the event:
- José de Brito, Institute of Childcare, Lisboa, Portugal
- Umit Ozturk, Mediterranean Resource Centre, Reino Unido
- Javier Edo Ausach , Plataforma de Voluntariat Social de la Comunitat Valenciana
- Marco Boaria, ALDA
- Pilar Ortega, Intermón Oxfam
- Dorothee Fischer, RECREATURA_arts&culture

Photos of the event are available on our Facebook page!

On 22 May 2011 at 12pm, we organized a guided tour through the Centro del Carmen (C/Museo 2, Valencia). Our active member Quino Arnau together with professor José Luís Baró, presented the exhibition “Fabular edificando_ la obra de José María Manuel Cortina” to us which they prepared.

José María Manuel Cortina (Valencia, 1868-1950), reknown architect from Valencia at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century was recognised as municipal architect of Valencia from 1892 onwards, being involved in numerious architectural projects in the Ensanche barrio among others. He worked for a variety of religious institutions and upper class Valencians, constructing very different types of houses such as residential buildings, holiday houses, pantheones or restoring them. Some of his buildings are recognised among the most relevant architecture of the city of Valencia today. In addition, he received various important architecture prizes.

The exhibition took place at the recently restored Refectorio del antiguo Convento del Carmen and was comprised of maps, showcases, photography and other interesting objects showing 19th and 20th century life in Valencia. Cortina developed his own style and is easily recognizable through the dragons and gargoyles on this buildings.

In the workshop “Culture and Creativity” Horacio presented the objectives and projects of RECREATURA and discussed how to develop common cultural events, how to better access information on partner organizations and how to overcome the current visa difficulties that many cultural operators are facing.

RECREATURA established a very interesting contact with the Institut Magazan which is involved in exchange programmes with Spanish young people who would like to improve their knowledge of the Arab language. The idea is to set up an exchange with young Spanish photographers or film-makers for which we are currently looking for funding opportunities.

RECREATURA will continue to be involved in the dialogue between Mediterranean countries and will apply to participate in the next Anna Lindh Meeting to be held in Tunis this summer. The event will deal with the recent arab revolution and will bring together civil society activists from both shores of the Mediterranean.

This thematic night at the Institut Francais of Valencia invited all young readers and their parents alike to embark on a poetical journey to explore the world of literature with all their senses.

New children’s books written in different languages were presented by the international bookshop Leolo and the Dutch writer Christa Brokke introduced her personalised book “Buddy Fish”. In addition, all children from the age of four onwards were given the opportunity to discover and experiment literature thanks to a series of workshop activities and the animated reading of the story “Murcièlagos en la biblioteca” by Brian Lies. This latter part was brought to you by the association Contarte with the support of the publishing company editorial Juventud. And of course there were also be some culinary specialities inspired by Alice in Wonderland´s famous tea society.

Impressions of the event.

On 30 May 2010, RECREATURA participated in an intercultural fair organised by the Valencian NGO Jarit. The event aimed at raising awareness on an intercultural co-existence and the rights that all citizens have regardless of their juridicial situation.

A wide range of information and educational activities were offered including African dance, henna, capoeira, masks from around the world, storytelling, caligraphy, debates, exhibitions, dance and music performances; as well as international culinary specialities.
RECREATURA participated with a stand in this event.

You always wanted to learn how to recognise a good wine and be able to describe its taste with a thousand metaphors, just like in the movies? Well, your chance has come at last! On 15 May 2010, Luis Palomar Stasny and Boni Cambón, owners of the Bodega Vinostrum, located at the Mercado de Mosen Soréll, Calle Corona, Valencia, prepared a two-hour introductory course for friends and members of RECREATURA which introduce us to the world of Valencian wines, its aroma, colour and different production methods.

There also served some Vegetarian tapas to accompany the wines to complete this unique Valencian culinary experience!

On 13 March 2010, we organised a guided tour to the exhibition “Cartografías de la creatividad: 100% valencianos‚ accompanied by the curator of the exhibition Rafael Gil and our President and art curator Anne-Marie Melster.

Cartografías de la creatividad: 100% valencianos was opened on 12 February 2010 at the Centre del Carme and was closed on 2 May. During these three months, visitors were given the opportunity to make themselves familiar with the latest tendencies of contemporary art in Valencia. More than 200 works by 100 artists born in the Valencian Community occupy 2500 square metres exhibition space in the old convent.

Renowned designers such as Culdesac, Odosdesign and Mario Ruiz were among among the participating artists. During the visit, we were given the opportunity to exchange with the Sevillan artist Javier Velasco, currently residing in Valencia, whose spectacular work “Una lluvia de lágrimas” was placed at the cupula of the exhibition hall. Tears of glass were hanging in different heights from the ceiling, which made it impossible to capture it on a photo. This installation could be found in the “Work in progress” area, next to works of Anna Talens, Alvaro Tamarit, Ernesto Casero, Moisés Mahiques, Alex Francés or Nuria Fuster.

And if you wish to suggest an event or cooperation activity yourself, do not hesitate to contact us at any time!

Best wishes from the RECREATURA team