An excellent and varied programme of classes in art and cultural based subjects will be available for anyone aged fourteen years and over in San Pedro next month. Starting in September the courses cover numerous creative and practical subjects encompassing the fields of technology, crafts, languages, music and dance.
The programme is arranged by the Department of Culture, the body dedicated to ‘ongoing education and participation in sociocultural activities’ for Marbella and San Pedro Alcántara.
The motivational workshops take place in a particularly inspiring venue: the Centro Cultural Trapiche Guadaiza situated a short distance (400 metres) from the town’s main church, just to the east of the town centre.
Initially built as a sugar factory in 1823 the Trapiche de Guadaiza has a fascinating history and was the first established industrial building in the area. In the late 19th Century it became an education centre for mechanical advancement in agriculture, which was a pioneering initiative at that time in Spain.
The building represents a fascinating sample of pre-industrial Andalusian heritage and stands as a testament to the importance of the cultivation of sugarcane on the Costa del Sol. Interestingly this region was one of the only places in Europe where the climate and conditions were suitable for the development of a sugarcane plantation.
The Trapiche de Guadaiza is also a true example of the agroindustrial past of San Pedro Alcántara and it illustrates the importance of the town’s original colony in relation to the sugarcane industry and the industrial processing of agricultural products.
In 2015 the building was lovingly renovated and refurbished to become its present incarnation as the cultural educational centre Trapiche de Guadaiza. The seminars and study groups held within the community building are available to everyone over the age of fourteen – and anyone can register to participate in the programme regardless of their level of education or age.
Overview of some typical classes on the agenda:
Painting
An introduction to drawing: objects, figures, proportions and compositions using charcoal, inks and pastels; with additional classes to learn painting techniques in watercolour, oil, acrylic, and wax.
Graduate Secondary Education course
The objective of this course is to obtain a Graduate Degree in Secondary Education and it is available to students aged 18 years and over.
Musical production
Learning how to use a multi-track recording programme with Logic Studio and working with microphones, mixers, processors and MIDI system.
Details relating to all the courses are available here.
Photo courtesy of Ayuntamiento de Marbella y San Pedro Alcantára