The Community of Madrid announces the first edition of the Paredes con Vida Awards, which will select 10 artistic murals in municipalities of up to 5,000 inhabitants. The initiative aims to beautify rural environments and enhance their cultural identity.
The Community of Madrid has launched a new initiative that combines art and rural development: the Paredes con Vida Awards. In its first edition, the regional government will select 10 murals to be painted in as many municipalities with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants, aiming to turn their walls into canvases that tell the story and traditions of each locality.
The Minister of Presidency, Justice and Local Administration, Miguel Ángel García Martín, presented the call this Monday at the Real Casa de Postas, where the exhibition Paredes que Hablan was also inaugurated, showcasing the 42 murals already created in the Sierra Norte. “Behind each municipality, there is a story told by generations of neighbours who have built a unique identity,” highlighted the minister.
From the Sierra Norte to the rest of the region
The awards are inspired by the Paredes que Hablan project, which last year transformed facades in the Sierra Norte into an open-air museum. Now, the Community wants to extend this experience to other regions, provided that the municipalities have not previously participated. “They are born with the intention of consolidating over time and becoming an annual reference event for small municipalities,” García Martín stated.
Interested municipalities can submit their applications until the end of this month through the official portal of the Community of Madrid. The murals will be chosen through a competition and painted in public spaces, with the collaboration of artists and the coordination of the North Lozoya Valley Association.
Art that boosts rural tourism
Beyond beautification, the initiative aims to socially and economically invigorate small municipalities. Each mural will reflect local identity, from traditional crafts to iconic landscapes, and it is expected to attract visitors interested in urban art. “It is a true open-air museum that invites you to explore the Sierra Norte in a different way,” the minister emphasized.
The exhibition Paredes que Hablan can be visited for free at the Real Casa de Postas until 30 July, from 10:00 to 20:00 hours. An opportunity to see firsthand how art can transform a village and, in turn, inspire the next winners of the Paredes con Vida Awards.
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