Art and Culture at the PACO Festival 2025

Art and Culture at the PACO Festival 2025

A Cultural Celebration That Empowers the Community

The PACO Festival commands attention in 2025, reaffirming itself as a cornerstone of cultural democracy in Montemayor, Córdoba. In its most ambitious edition to date, the festival promises to captivate audiences with a multidisciplinary program spanning dance, music, sculpture, installations, drawing, and contemporary art. The town’s most emblematic spaces — the Museo de Ulia, the Castillo de Dos Hermanas, and the Plaza de la Constitución — will become genuine stages of creation, inviting the local community into a vibrant celebration of artistic life.

Ahead of the main event, the pre-festival opens officially on April 25 at the Museo de Ulia and the Casa de la Cultura. With the participation of artists including Felicia Puerta and Marisa Giménez Soler, the exhibition ‘Arte Contemporáneo en Ruta’ will open — an ambitious itinerant showcase presenting works by international artists. The traveling exhibition ‘Gráfica Estructural’ will further bring contemporary art to Montemayor, extending access to diverse communities in a deliberate effort to democratize culture, one of the festival’s most defining ambitions.

Art Conquered Through Innovation and Tradition

Among the most anticipated moments is the Symphony Orchestra concert, scheduled at the Plaza Rafael Alberti in collaboration with the Universidad de Córdoba, Uco Cultura, and the Conservatorio de Música. The pre-festival will also feature programming that weaves culinary art with local tradition — among them, the creation of a community recipe book celebrating the rich gastronomy of Montemayor. As Felicia Puerta aptly observes: “We must decentralize the places of art — leave the museums and draw closer to the residents of smaller towns.” It is a conviction the festival has embraced without reservation.

From the inventive poster design by Cachetejack to the monumental work of Miguel Fernández, the PACO Festival program is a compelling passage through art and culture. ‘Ciclista III’ stands among its many surprises, exploring the intersection of art and local sporting identity. Javier de Riba, meanwhile, will transform public space with his project ‘Floors,’ inspired by traditional hydraulic tile floors, while contemporary dance makes its mark with Antonio Ruz‘s piece ‘Flop’ — an innovative exploration of human relationships rendered through movement.

The PACO Festival 2025 is far more than an event; it is a genuine bond between art and community. Backed by local foundations and businesses, the festival has established itself as a multicultural meeting point that fosters exchange and deepens understanding. Montemayor and its people are ready to live an experience that not only celebrates artistic creation but drives a profound cultural dialogue — one that quietly challenges every assumption about what art can be and where it belongs.