The collaboration with local associations is the key factor of territorial integration. The better-integrated cultural centres are those that work closely with various associations and organisations focused on society issues, artistic disciplines or specific audience. Their aims are various: cultural, social, citizenship, development themes.

>> See more in the manager’s interview of Corporación Cultural Nuestra Gente in Medellin, Colombia, mARTadero in Cochabamba, Bolivia or IMPA in Buenos Aires, La Fabrica Cultural in Cordoba, Argentina. 

 

       Some independent cultural centres get locally integrated by contributing to artistic and cultural education in the local area.  These centres work hand by hand with schools by organizing regular specific shows and workshops in centres or in classrooms. Some of them dedicate a large share of their programming to activities for children or students, maintaining strong relationships with universities.

>> See more in the interview of the managers of Corporacion cultural Nuestra Gente in Medellin, Proyecto Casa B (Fights chapter) and La Redada in Bogota, Colombia

 

    Citizen-oriented programming, dedicated to individual empowerment or local collective issues make cultural centres vital places for their local audience. In some cases, improving the neighbourhood life is a priority of the cultural mission, through democratic participation workshops and debates on the district issues and prospects. These centres organise original activities on local memory and identity themes in order to design a better future for the neighbourhood. Others pay attention to individual empowerment by diffusing open data, sharing open courses and knowledge or encouraging entrepreneurship by hosting local incubators.

>> See more in the interview of the managers of mARTadero in Cochabamba, Fundacion COMPA in El Alto, Bolivia, Proyecto Casa B in Bogota, Colombia and Casa Ida in Lima, Peru.

 

   For some independent cultural centres, local integration goes with outside activities. That means programming artistic and cultural activities in public space (square, streets, park) or in digital circuits, through for example free radio on line.

>> See more in the interview of the managers of Fundacion COMPA in El Alto, Bolivia, Casa Ida in Lima and Tambo de Bronce in Arequipa, Peru.

 

       In independent centres run by artists and collectives, cultural mediation is often naturally facilitated. The artists themselves can present their work and discuss the message they want to convey, encouraging the audience to ask questions and and get educated on art. The direct exchange between an artist, good at explaining, and its audience makes it easier for any kind of audience to understand art.

>> See more in the interview of the manager of La Redada in Bogota, Colombia.