MESTIZO COLLECTIEF is powered by MESTIZO ARTS PLATFORM in Belgium.
Sattelite in Germany: Mestizx Berlin
Creating space for cultural transformation.
We are a diverse collective of arts workers, active since 2004. We work cooperatively, designing artistic devices that stimulate the development of new narratives. We accompany and guide artists, institutions, and organizations in their quest to transform policies and develop participatory processes that address current challenges.
Mission:
European cities have become hubs where people from all over the world converge. They come, drawn by the raw materials (riches) of their home countries, seeking knowledge, security, and a better future. When we gather around a campfire, the first thing we do is share a story. Thousands of stories together. This presents the opportunity to build a fairer and more honest account of who we are as humanity—an invaluable treasure. However, accessing these stories is not always easy.
At Mestizo, we specialize in making these stories visible through artistic means, empowering the storytellers. These efforts take the form of projects with private or governmental organizations, as well as individual works and installations. The common thread is the participatory nature and the raw material: the stories. We believe art plays a crucial role in shaping the future.
Just as sociologists or physicists research and seek insights to help us face the challenges of living together, artists do so in their own way. Their main tool is intuition. Artists act as oracles, allowing us to reflect on who we were, who we are, and who we could become—a true factory of the future.
But to approach that future, artistic practice requires the widest range of perspectives and intuitions. In a unique context shaped by the growth of urban centers, major demographic changes, ecological challenges, and global interconnection, we need new answers and strategies. From this urgency, we build our work—acknowledging the challenges, yet focusing on all that we can learn and the potential benefits of these new possibilities.
- Tine De Pourcq: tine@mestizoartsplatform.be
- Gerardo Salinas: gerardosalinasproyectos@gmail.com
- Joana Rossi: rossijoana@gmail.com
- Lucila Guichón :mail@lucilaguichon.com