The Ellas Crean Festival takes place throughout the month of March and until April 7th. A proposal that combines dance, theatre, music, literature and visual arts in an attempt to reflect on the active and producer role of women in the cultural sector.

One week ago the International Women's Day was celebrated all over the world, and our country was an example of the ability to call one of the largest social mobilisations that wanted to question the pre-established gender roles and claim social equality which still is a historical debt.

“Óyeme con los ojos”. María Pagés Company

Around this milestone, many contributions have been generated from the world of the arts, among which "Ellas Crean" stands out. This festival is an initiative of the Institute for Women and Equal Opportunities and the Conde Duque Cultural Centre, which has had the collaboration of more than thirty institutions of the capital to build a solid program where women are the protagonists. The project obeys to a collective clamour that has been growing and increasing in adherents in recent years. According to the Minister of Culture of France "the cultural sector has the duty to be exemplary in terms of equality between men and women", and to this aim, the festival responds, which is now in its 14th edition.

Ana Dévora

From March 1st to April 7th, activities in all disciplines are concentrated and offer a wide range of possibilities for all tastes and trends. In addition to institutional support, the contributions of many national museums to the program stand out and help to enrich the exhibition content with samples that deal with the figure of relevant women and the role of women in the arts from different perspectives, both social and historical.

“Sin ellas no hay futuro” ©Patrick Farrell

In a more contemporary level, the proposals of plastic arts are completed with two photography exhibitions in Conde Duque: "Sur la route", by Ana Dévora, a landscape image that invites to meet again with nature, and "Sin ellas no hay futuro", which portrays the harsh reality that women suffer in contexts of humanitarian crisis, organized by Doctors Without Borders. In addition, the "Tres en suma" initiative, which celebrates its 7th anniversary within the festival, brings together exhibition, performance and poetry in the first two weeks of April.

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.