The Bueño Arts Center celebrates its second anniversary as a cultural landmark in rural Asturias

Two years after its opening, the Bueño Arts Center has become a leading space for contemporary creation, intercultural dialogue, and rural revitalization. Born from the EDP Foundation’s Public Art competition, this initiative has transformed the municipality of Ribera de Arriba into a meeting point for artists, audiences, and communities.

Since its inauguration, the Center has hosted exhibitions, concerts, performances, and artist residencies that have strengthened ties between Asturias and Portugal, through collaborations with the MAAT – Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology in Lisbon and the Portuguese Embassy in Spain. Among its most notable exhibitions was that of Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos, whose show “LSD – Freedom, Solidarity and Democracy” featured her piece “La Pasionaria”, a heart-shaped crochet installation paying tribute to female figures and symbolizing a call for democratic values.

The event marking the Center’s second anniversary was attended by Pablo León, Director-General of Culture and Heritage of the Principality of Asturias; Tomás Fernández, Mayor of Ribera de Arriba; Vanda Martins, Director of the EDP Foundation; and Fernando Ribeiro, Cultural Producer at MAAT in Lisbon. All of them highlighted the project’s success and the importance of continuing to support initiatives that empower rural communities and their residents.

2025: “Art, Nature and Sustainability”

The 2025 annual program of the Bueño Arts Center revolves around the theme “Art, Nature and Sustainability.” It focuses, as Fernando Ribeiro, Cultural Producer at MAAT and curator of the exhibitions, explains, “on the relationship between nature and human nature — a bond that has grown increasingly dysfunctional, yet still inspires poetic and romantic imagery that daily life often contradicts.”

Second Anniversary of the Bueño Arts Center

The anniversary program featured two major exhibitions:

• “The Trace of Time”, by Japanese sculptor Tadanori Yamaguchi, presents a selection of works that engage with the Asturian landscape through an aesthetic influenced by Japanese wabi-sabi. Pieces like Prism of Light and Mass, together with his Raiboku sculptures, explore the relationship between nature and artifice, time and matter, transforming the exhibition hall into a contemplative garden.
• “PAUSE”, by Portuguese artist Cláudio Garrudo, offers an intimate reflection on the pace of contemporary life. Through series such as Feminine Noun, Venus, and Quintets, the artist invites a choreography between artwork and viewer, where silence and introspection take center stage.

Both exhibitions were curated by Fernando Ribeiro, who emphasized the Center’s ability to “create a space without barriers between Earth, Sea, Air, and each of us.”

Live music was also a highlight of the anniversary celebration, featuring local artists such as La Banda EDP and Algaire, who performed on the Center’s stage.

A space that grows with its community

With a 3,000 m² surface area and a design inspired by traditional Asturian hórreos (granaries), the Bueño Arts Center continues to drive local development. Its 180º stage has hosted concerts by both emerging and established musicians, while its exhibition hall has served as a venue for workshops, talks, and educational activities.

Through this initiative, the EDP Foundation reaffirms its commitment to the region, offering opportunities to young creators and promoting social inclusion through art.