Organisation
Centre Sant Jaume · Fundació Carles Blanch
Place
Badalona
Artist
Camil Escruela
Format
Participatory mural · 4 workshops
Fundació Carles Blanch
Centre Sant Jaume
Centre Sant Jaume is a non-profit organisation founded in 1997 in Badalona. It works for the education and the human, social and cultural development of children, young people and families in vulnerable situations or at risk of social exclusion.
Its team is made up of professionals from the socio-educational field —social educators, educationalists, psychologists, social workers— as well as volunteers who take an active part in the project.
In 1996 they started the activity of the Open Centre in the Gorg neighbourhood of Badalona, with the aim of promoting social justice through education with children at risk.
Over the years, they have expanded their spaces and launched various projects to meet local needs, such as educational support programmes, absenteeism prevention, mentoring for young people and job placement initiatives.
Today, they continue to work with a strong social commitment, focusing on supporting people and building a fairer and more inclusive society.
The cultural project with BAS
At BAS we see urban art as much more than artistic expression: it is a tool for participation, cohesion and social transformation. That is why we promote cultural projects with local organisations and collectives, creating creative experiences that encourage dialogue, civic involvement and a sense of belonging to the community.
On this occasion we had the opportunity to work with Centre Sant Jaume in Badalona, a leading socio-educational organisation that supports children, teenagers and young people in vulnerable situations. Through educational programmes, leisure activities, school support and community projects, the centre works to promote social inclusion, equal opportunities and the personal development of its participants.
With the aim of creating a warmer, more meaningful space for the children, we jointly launched a participatory mural project to transform the centre’s dining room. The initiative was supported by the artist Camil Escruela, who guided the group throughout the creative process.
Four workshops, one collective mural
The project took place over four workshops.
01
Workshop 1 · Urban art
The first session introduced the participants to the world of urban art, exploring its history, its languages and its ability to communicate ideas and transform spaces.
02
Workshop 2 · Ideas and sketches
In the second session, the children worked together to come up with ideas, sharing concerns, imagining concepts and drawing the first sketches of the mural.
03
Workshops 3 and 4 · The mural
Finally, the last two sessions were devoted to creating the work, turning the initial ideas into a real, collective artistic intervention.
Beyond the final result
Beyond the final result, this project has been an experience of learning and participation. The children were able to express their creativity, develop teamwork skills, make decisions together and see their contributions come to life in a space that is part of their daily lives.
Today, the mural reflects their imagination, but also the value of shared creative processes in building bonds, self-esteem and a sense of community.
At BAS we continue to support initiatives that bring culture closer to people and use art as a driver of social change. Because we firmly believe that creativity can create opportunities, inclusion and meeting spaces that enrich the community.
Are you an organisation that would like to launch a cultural project with BAS?
