Since its first gathering in 2022, Hidden Stories (Històries Ocultes) has become a key space for connecting cultures and giving voice to women's stories through various artistic expressions. This initiative, driven by the artist Petra Vlasman, has already achieved the participation of more than 200 women in the ten intercultural projects carried out to date. The main goal is to break existing social, linguistic, and cultural bubbles, bringing together Catalan women, newcomers, and different generations to discuss "who we are, where we come from, and what we need to feel part of a community," according to Vlasman.
The latest edition, titled The Inner Home, focused on the search for security and a sense of belonging. It involved a group of women with diverse life trajectories, some linked to the Women's Information and Assistance Service (SIAD) and the Specialized Intervention Service (SIE). Over two months, participants explored childhood memories, present experiences, and future wishes, translating them into artistic pieces of photography, collage, writing, and embroidery. The results of this process can be visited at the Art i Teca space in Figueres until January 7.
“"Art, empathy, and collective creation are tools to connect people and cultures living in the same territory; the project makes sense as long as it can continue to offer these meeting spaces."
Eight of the ten projects have taken place in Figueres, the capital of the Alt Empordà. Vlasman emphasizes the importance of this work in the city, believing it is "more necessary than ever to build bridges and generate listening spaces" given the demographic changes the city is experiencing. The project is not conceived as a closed initiative; currently, conversations are underway with the MUME in La Jonquera to create a new group in collaboration with the Consortium for Linguistic Normalization (CPNL) and the City Council.
