Although we know that commitments get crowded these dates and that meals, dinners, visits and events accumulate without giving truce, there is always a chance to make room to disconnect and enjoy contemporary art with family. Here we bring you a list of some of the most interesting and entertaining cultural activities so that everyone enjoys these holidays between ‘turrón’ and grapes.

Workshops ‘¿Soy yo?’ and ‘Viaje espacial’ at the CGAC

One way to get to know contemporary art is to see it and live it in person while working on some of the concepts present in the exhibitions. The proposal of the CGAC (Santiago de Compostela) is to work, on the one hand, the last series of Jesús Madriñán focused on the people he was portraying when travelling the Camino de Santiago and that allows to delve into concepts such as inclusion and gender diversity and, on the other, the showing of the artist Pedro Cabrita Reis, who reworks objects through found elements and helps us to work the notion of reconversion, destruction and reconstruction. The workshops propose activities linked to the visit of these exhibitions to bring contemporary art to the kids of the house.

21st and 22nd December | From 4 to 9 years old

Workshop ‘App Inventor’ at Espacio Fundación Telefónica

To get into the technology and know some of its many applications, this workshop for teenagers proposes some important keys, without forgetting the responsibility in the use of these devices. A recreational and educational activity that will allow you to get the most out of a tablet while introducing us to the programming language.

26th and 27th December 2019 and 2nd and 3rd January 2020 | From 12 years old on

Workshop ‘Navidad en el museo’, at the Lázaro Galdiano Museum

A good way to soak up the Christmas spirit is to participate in the preparation of decorations, ornaments, gifts and greeting cards that are so exciting at this time. Putting themselves in the shoes of a true artist, participants will be able to tour the galleries of the museum and their showrooms while they soak up the works that reign the space and blow up their imagination in the crafts that they then carry out.

26th and 27th December 2019 and 2nd and 3rd January 2020 | From 5 to 12 years old

‘Este año la Navidad es… ¡verde!’, at the Guggenheim Bilbao

To raise awareness about the need to care for the planet and adopt sustainable practices in our day-to-day lives, the Guggenheim Museum proposes dynamic programming to address these issues by solving puzzles and always keeping in mind the art and work of the artists. In addition, one of the workshops, taught by the artists in residence Miren Arenzana, Zaloa Ipiña and Karlos Martínez Bordoy, will make the little ones reflect on the value of gifts and the possibility of emphasising non-materialistic elements.

From the 20th December 2019 to the 3rd January 2020 | From 3 to 11 years old

‘VaCAACiones’ at the CAAC (Andalusian Centre of Contemporary Art)

The whole family is invited to know the works of the CAAC collection through entertaining and dynamic activities that will allow them to visit and investigate something else in the work of Amalia Pica (Neuquén, Argentina, 1978) and Juan Suárez (El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz, 1946). The workshop wants to encourage the creative contribution of visitors, to feed their imagination and development, while putting in value the contemporary art that can be seen in the centre.

26th and 27th December 2019 and 2nd and 3rd January 2020

At the most recent edition of Art Madrid, artist Luis Olaso (Bilbao, 1986), represented by Kur Art Gallery (San Sebastián), received the Residency Prize of the Art Madrid Patronage Program. This award, the result of a collaboration between Art Madrid, DOM Art Residence, and the Italian association ExtrArtis, enabled him to undertake an artistic residency in Sorrento (Italy) in August 2025.

Through initiatives like this, the fair reaffirms its support for contemporary creation—a commitment aimed at increasing artists’ visibility and strengthening art collecting through concrete actions such as acquisition prizes, recognition of emerging talents, and international residencies.

Artists in Residence. DOM & ExtrArtis. Image courtesy of Agata D’Esposito.

The DOM & ExtrArtis 2025 Residency Program took place in Sorrento from August 1 to 31, 2025. The artists lived together at Relais La Rupe, a 16th-century villa surrounded by cliffs and centuries-old gardens, which became an ideal setting for experimentation and exchange.

In this edition, residents worked around the theme “Reimagining Genius Loci”, an invitation to reflect on how the movement of people and traditions transforms the “spirit of place.” During the residency, DOM organized two public group exhibitions: the first to present the artists’ previous work, and the second to showcase the projects developed in Sorrento.

Work by Luis Olaso. DOM & ExtrArtis. Image courtesy of Agata D’Esposito.

Luis Olaso’s work moves between expressionist figuration and abstraction, always employing a pictorial language charged with strength and emotion. Initially self-taught, he later graduated in Fine Arts and has developed a solid international career, with exhibitions at venues including JD Malat (London) and Makasiini Contemporary (Turku, Finland), and participation in fairs such as Untitled Miami, Estampa, and Art Madrid itself.

His work is part of prestigious collections, including the Tokyo Contemporary Art Foundation, Fundación SIMCO, and the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, and has been recognized in competitions such as the Reina Sofía Prize for Painting and Sculpture and the Ibercaja Young Painting Prize.

In Sorrento, Olaso found a unique context to expand his pictorial research, engaging in dialogue with the Mediterranean landscape and the region’s historical heritage. The residency provided him with time, resources, and a framework for exchange with other international artists, fostering the production of new works that were later presented in the group exhibitions organized by DOM.

Luis Olaso working on his project. DOM & ExtrArtis. Image courtesy of DOM.

Luis Olaso’s experience at DOM Art Residence concluded with a public showcase of the works produced, reinforcing his presence on the international circuit and consolidating his position as one of the most prominent Basque artists on the contemporary scene.

Through initiatives such as this, Art Madrid demonstrates its active role as a platform for direct support of contemporary creation, creating opportunities for research, production, and intercultural dialogue that extend beyond the fair itself and accompany artists in their professional development.