Original article: Museo de Arte Popular Americano de la U. de Chile formó a los pequeños mediadores del Encuentro Popular de las Artes 2026 en Cerrillos American Popular Art Museum Educates Young Art Mediators for the 2026 Popular Arts Encounter in Cerrillos What if we brought an art gallery to the school? In 2022, Sandra Ramírez and the educational community at Pedro Aguirre Cerda School in Cerrillos, along with local organizers Boris Romero and Patricia Ariza, contemplated what would happen if the school transformed into an exhibition space for a few days.

After realizing how appealing and beneficial this idea could be, the next question was how to make it happen. “We had some friends with artwork who could participate, and so in November 2022, we gained the courage to initiate the First Popular Arts Encounter the following year,” Ramírez explains. The event showcased works by local artists, open to students, teachers, families, and community members.

Thus, Pedro Aguirre Cerda School became a cultural hub designed by and for the community. “I remember Paty’s (Ariza) first question – what happens if art comes out of the ghettos? It’s very sectorized, and only a few can access it, turning art into a luxury good.

That shouldn’t be the case as it always sparks interest, especially in young children,” says Sandra Ramírez. Ramírez adds that the encounter “also arises from the need for the school to become a different learning space, as it often confines itself to boring subjects like language, math, and tests. My aim has been to transform, break paradigms, and encourage communities to take ownership of spaces for dialogue, learning, and experimentation.

” The following year, they wanted to go further and connected with Deysi Cruz from the Education Department at the American Popular Art Museum Tomás Lago (MAPA), who suggested involving children as active agents in the artistic process. This led to the creation of the «Art Mediators in Your School» program, training a group of ten children to mediate the exhibit for their peers and the local community. “It took the exhibit to the next level,” Ramírez shares.

A cohort of children received initial training in cultural mediation and art appreciation, equipping them with the tools needed to guide their peers through the exhibit. “We first invited them to visit our museum, where they received mediated tours, and then we tailored subsequent sessions to focus on the specific works in the exhibition. We also supported them during the event in their mediation roles,” explains Deysi Cruz from MAPA.

Among the participants was Michelanda Florens, who was eleven when she trained as a mediator. “I didn’t know what mediation was, but Aunt Deysi and a few teachers explained it to me. Artists came to talk with us, and I learned a lot from them.

I was inspired because I paint and design, but I felt stuck before the encounter. After the activity, I felt more liberated, learned from the artists and the paintings. I loved it and gave it my all,” says the student.

A Growing Collaboration The collaboration between MAPA and the Popular Arts Encounter at Pedro Aguirre Cerda School has grown stronger over the years. In 2026, part of the museum’s team is also collaborating on curating, exhibit design, and mounting the event. “Participating in this encounter is an opportunity for us to share our work with children and contribute to a popular, community-oriented event.

Training them in mediation empowers them as active participants in their territories, providing concrete learning in artistic matters while helping them develop expressive and teamwork skills,” explains Deysi Cruz. Similarly, director Sandra Ramírez emphasizes, “Any effort toward pedagogical innovation will always add value. Often, schools are reluctant to innovate because it’s challenging and requires more work, but the experience and benefits for the children are crucial.

” “We believe that children need a variety of tools to learn how to thrive in society. If we confine learning to the classroom, we won’t achieve that. The work done by MAPA’s Education Department has been pivotal; these children are better prepared than peers from other schools for similar opportunities, equipped to visit a gallery in the future or pursue a career in art,” declares the director of Pedro Aguirre Cerda School.

The Fourth Popular Arts Encounter 2026 will take place on April 24 for the school community and on April 25 for the general public from 3 PM. Admission is free.