You do not need to step inside a gallery to see contemporary art in Els Poblets. On Friday 2 and Saturday 3 October, artists will once again take their paintbrushes to the town’s window shutters for the fourth Persianes amb Art (Shutters with Art).
This year’s event will add 34 newly painted shutters to the 71 already scattered around Els Poblets. That will take the permanent open-air collection to 105 works, with 36 artists taking part in the latest edition.
And there is much more going on than painting. The two-day programme includes exhibitions, workshops, theatrical tours, an art market and traditional Mallorcan music and dance.
Watch the artists at work
The painting begins on Friday 2 October from 17:00 to 19:30, giving visitors the chance to watch the shutters change before their eyes.
At the Casa de la Cultura, Toni Ortolà’s Ratllades exhibition will run from 17:00 to 20:00.
At 19:30, the Dimonis de Santa Margalida from Mallorca will take to the streets for a parade.
Saturday 3 October is the main day, with artists working on their shutters from 10:00 until 20:00.
The Plaça del Salvador will become the main hub for this year’s event, with further shutters painted in Calle Denia, Calle Sant Josep, Calle Molí and Calle Pego.
Eight university students will be among this year’s artists, alongside creators at different stages of their careers. The shutters are offered by local property owners, but the artists retain control over what they create.
Art, workshops and theatrical tours
Saturday starts with a popular breakfast at 10:00, while a painting workshop based around ants runs from 10:00 to 13:00.
There will also be an Art Market, along with exhibitions and installations around the town.
If this is your first visit, two theatrical tours at 11:00 and 18:00 offer a chance to discover some of the shutters created during previous editions.
At 12:30, the Umbrellas inclusive parade will bring together the associations and musical groups. APROSDECO participants will also create a new shutter with artist Nero.
Mallorca comes to Els Poblets
The evening takes a Mallorcan turn at 19:30 with a ball pagès, a traditional folk dance. The dancers will wear skirts painted by artists especially for the occasion.
Then at 21:00, the Dimonis de Santa Margalida return for a correfoc, the traditional fire-run spectacle that will close the programme.
Persianes amb Art began in 2023 as a collaboration. Four editions later, what started with a collection of painted shutters has grown into a permanent outdoor gallery that visitors can wander around at any time.
And unlike most galleries, this one never closes. The existing works remain on the streets 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Bridging the Gap’s recap
- Persianes amb Art returns to Els Poblets on Friday 2 and Saturday 3 October.
- Artists will paint 34 new shutters, taking the permanent collection to 105.
- A total of 36 artists will participate this year.
- Painting begins from 17:00 on Friday and continues throughout Saturday.
- Saturday includes workshops, exhibitions, an art market and theatrical tours.
- A traditional Mallorcan ball pagès takes place at 19:30 on Saturday.
- The Dimonis de Santa Margalida close the event with a correfoc at 21:00.
- The painted shutters remain as a permanent, free open-air gallery around Els Poblets.
