“Living and surviving in outsider art in Spain”
Don’t miss the first International Outsider Art Conference in Spain
Event details
- Date: June 13, 2025
- Time: 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m
- Location: Distinguished Bar Association of Bizkaia

Proposal accepted within the Expanded Program “Towards MONDIACULT 2025”
In 2025, BILBAO FORMARTE organized the International Congress of Outsider Art in Bilbao on June 13, marking the first time this event was held in Southern Europe.
The main goal was to give visibility to artists with psychological or intellectual disabilities, recognizing and promoting their talent, and preparing a report of best practices to foster inclusive policies in the cultural field.
The congress brought together associations and groups from across the country (Galicia, Asturias, the Basque Country, Castile and León, Aragon, Catalonia, Madrid, Valencia, and Andalusia). Each speaker attended with artists who showcased their work in disciplines such as painting, music, and theater, asserting their right to make a living from their creative work.
The meeting also highlighted the lack of opportunities for this group, whose artistic and professional training is cut off after the age of 19, as well as the limited recognition of Outsider Art in Spain compared to other European countries, where a paternalistic approach toward these individuals still persists.
Video recording on YouTube in Spanish (soon to be subtitled in Basque)
Video recording on YouTube in English (soon to be subtitled in Basque)
Podcast of the conference in Spanish
Podcast of the conference in English

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