Acción Cultural Española (AC/E) and the CAPACETE contemporary art center collaborate to promote the international mobility of professionals from the Spanish arts sector, facilitating their integration into Brazil’s most prestigious research and thought program.
Part of AC/E’s residency program for creators, this initiative allows a Spanish contemporary art curator, writer, or researcher (or resident in Spain) to participate in CAPACETE's discursive platform in Rio de Janeiro. The goal is to facilitate the research and documentation of aesthetic, social, and political processes within the South American context, fostering lasting professional exchange networks.
2026 Selected Resident
Following the selection process, the professional undertaking this residency is:
Álex Martín Rod An Andalusian curator and researcher. He is currently developing a doctoral thesis on the displacement of representation from the 1990s to the present, investigating how political discourse has shifted away from evidence and linear storytelling toward more poetic languages. His practice intersects contemporary art, performance, and critical thought, exploring what happens when desire becomes architecture.
He is the co-director of Arquitecturas Deseantes, a nomadic festival exploring the frictions between flamenco, Romani culture, and queer ecologies. In 2024, he curated the Art Explora International Festival in Málaga (En la quiebre de la mar de Alborán), and has been part of the curatorial team at TBA21 Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary. In 2025, he participated in the Shanghai Curatorial Lab, researching the role of the curator as a community mediator.
Technical Fact Sheet
Location: CAPACETE, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil).
Duration: 12 weeks.
Period: August – November 2026.
Thematic Axis: “Technologies of Approximation.” Under the direction of researcher Rubens Takamine, this cycle explores ancestral knowledge, rituals, and forms of coexistence that transform human life beyond the digital realm.
About CAPACETE and the Program
CAPACETE is an independent institution in Rio de Janeiro that hosts the oldest artistic residency program in Brazil. It functions as a hub for experimentation and affective listening, connecting international creators with the Brazilian art scene.
During the stay, the resident participates in an intensive program of activities including:
Open seminars and transdisciplinary workshops.
Personalized tutoring and documentation sessions.
Guided visits to artists' studios and meetings with local agents.
Workspace and accommodation at the institution's creative center.
Grant and Benefits
To ensure optimal research conditions, AC/E provides the resident with a comprehensive grant covering:
Round-trip international travel from Spain.
Accommodation and workspace in Rio de Janeiro for three months.
A net allowance of €2,700 for production and living expenses.
Full medical insurance and health coverage for the entire period.
