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Space of freedomBut residencies are not just a question of training, ‘the idea is also to be able to work with a different freedom; these spaces let you get on with your project, explore beyond the requirements of museums or galleries, they’re always freer experiences. There are a lot of young artists who are mobile and have a presence, though not institutionally’, Juan de Nieves states.Q. It is clear that Spain has a shortage of residency programmes. So how can mobility be encouraged? A. There are minor experiences, but there’s no central space where mobility programmes are being dealt with seriously. Therefore we invite institutions that are able and willing to do so to work in this direction in the medium term: Fundación Banco Santander, DKV Seguros, Tabacalera in San Sebastián,Jove in La Coruña... It’s a question of being valiant and believing in this model. We need institutions whose mission is not just to produce exhibitions but to create mobility programmes and, based on them, many more related aspects like education or working in the context. Of course, the returns aren’t visible at first sight: there’s no iconicvalue as there is in setting up an art centre, but they’re achieved in the long run. This has happened at Gasworks, which has become a central place in London; it’s a small structure but everyone goes there and it’s got great drawing power.Q. And what is the main benefit to be had from residencies?A. We complain that Spanish art isn’t internationally acclaimed and this is because we don’t have networking programmes of this kind that relate Spanish artists to those in other countries. It no longer depends only on institutions;Interview115Selection of projects