The European cultural heritage project MASKS has launched a new exhibition at the CEARCAL gallery in Valladolid, Spain, running until 25 September 2026. The showcase presents the outcomes of recent international craft mobilities held over the summer in Bucharest, Bragança, and Valladolid, featuring completed masks, raw material studies, and process-led video documentation.
Coordinated by the University of Valladolid, the broader MASKS initiative brings together 12 institutions across Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Romania, including ECA member CEARTE. The consortium is dedicated to investigating, preserving, and transmitting the specific artisanal trades and knowledge systems linked to traditional European masquerades.
The exhibition frames these regional customs not as static folklore, but as a deeply rooted living heritage. By exploring the physical application of wood, natural fibres, metal, and textiles, the display highlights a clear reality: the continuity of these cultural rituals depends entirely on the active survival of the workshops that produce them. Through ongoing research, practical training, and cross-border mobility, the project partners are working to ensure these specialised making processes reach a new generation of practitioners.
photo: CEARCAL