Key questions and answers to prepare for the Confabular Más Democracia call

We also shared the full video of the briefing held on September 21.

The first phase of Confabular Más Democracia – Call for participatory art will be Open until October 10 2026. Below, we share some common questions and answers that we often receive.

In addition, you can watch the full video of the briefing, which took place on September 21, here:

PROJECTS SOUGHT:

What kind of projects are you looking for?

This call seeks to launch two participatory art projects following the Concomitentes working methodology. In them, a citizen collective made up of young people, together with a cultural sector mediator, will work on a problem related to democracy to create a commissioned work of art. You can see examples of projects driven by Concomitentes in the “Commisions”.

Should the project strictly address a question related to democracy?

Issues related to democracy can span many areas of life and relate to social, cultural, territorial or community problems. Given that this call is aimed at strengthening and expanding democracy, projects that directly address this issue and propose how art and culture can contribute to creating spaces for participation, dialogue, reflection or collective action will be positively considered. To expand our perspective on this, we have published On the threshold. 11 challenges for the future of democracy, a zine by Remedios Zafra, Fernando Broncano and Jaume Peris, from the Laboratorio de Futuros.

Will proposals outside urban settings be favoured?

It will be taken into account positively, as indicated in the call for applications, but it will not be an exclusive criterion. In recent years, Concomitentes has been trying to situate its practice outside of the major cities and urban areas for the sake of redistributing cultural resources.

Can the project be located in different locations or have participants from different territories?
The call seeks projects linked to a specific conflict, desire, or need, located in a particular territory. Therefore, the project must focus on a specific area and have a citizen collective linked to that territory.

Participants do not necessarily have to reside permanently in the place where the project is being developed, but they must have a clear link to it and the issues that affect it. In any case, the real possibility of maintaining sustained participation over time will be assessed. Concomitantly, a continuous process of dialogue, encounter, and collective work is required. When the participating individuals are dispersed geographically, it may be more difficult to ensure this continuity and the development of the project; therefore, each case will be studied based on the specific characteristics and possibilities of the project.

Can the project be a continuation of a cause previously identified and in which work has been done in the past?

It is understood that the person mediating may have previously collaborated with the collective or have worked on a similar cause. However, the submitted project cannot already be initiated or be an application for funding for a previous or ongoing project. It must begin from scratch and be developed following the Concomitants methodology and protocol. 

ON THE MEDIATION PROFILE:

Are there formal requirements for a mediator's profile and should he/she have formal training in mediation?

The mediator does not need to have formal training in mediation. The important thing is that they have experience in similar projects. The track record and the projects in which they have participated must be specified in the form.

His/her experience in accompanying and leading citizen participation processes, as well as his/her track record and knowledge in the cultural sector, the production and management of artistic projects, curating, and working with artists and communities, will be particularly valued. His/her ability to facilitate collective processes and to articulate the various parties involved in the project will also be taken into account, as will, of course, his/her roots and knowledge of the local context in which the parallel project will be developed.

What are the main skills that a mediator should have?

We understand that the profile of mediator is new, and that it is currently used to refer to different functions within the cultural field, but basically it should be a professional who knows how to manage relatively high project budgets, has had experience in mediation processes and knows how to lead the process of an artistic production. They should also know how to facilitate listening and negotiating environments in social settings, and know how to seek funding and generate networks and collaboration in the local contexts where they work.

Can the mediator be part of the citizens' collective?

To avoid potential conflicts of interest or tensions, the mediation profile should not be part of the collective.

Can the mediator be the artist of the project?

No. The role of mediator and the role of artist must be separate. The figure of the artist will be incorporated later in the project.

Can the mediator be part of an association?

Yes. The mediator or mediator can be part of an association, a cooperative, or a group of people who work together, and can be a natural person or a legal entity. However, only one person – or two in case it is deemed necessary – will be in charge of leading and developing the mediation.

Can two people or a team play the role of mediator?

In recent years we have worked with co-mediation formulas, in which two people share this role. In these cases, the fees expected for mediation will be the same, so it will be up to the people who assume this role to distribute the work in a logical and balanced manner, based on the needs of the project and its profiles. Larger work teams are not recommended within the framework of this call for applications.

Can the mediator live outside the context where the project will work?

It is possible, but we prioritize working with mediators who operate in the context and place where the initiative is going to be developed and where the group of stakeholders resides. First, to gain a deep understanding of the problem to be addressed; second, to facilitate the creation of a link with the citizen group; third, to be able to develop networks with local collaborators, who may already be in place or have been created if the mediator operates in that territory.

Does the mediator have to be registered in the self-employed workers scheme?

You must be a professional with the ability to act in the Spanish state, either through an association or as a self-employed individual, in order to execute the budget and collect fees. You and the person will sign a collaboration agreement establishing all the matters to be considered.

Does the mediator have to be a Spanish national?

No, they simply have to fulfill the obligations specified in the previous point.

Does the mediator have to be under 35 years old?

No. The age limit applies to the people targeted by the call, not to the mediator. However, it will be favorable if the mediation profile also meets this criterion.

ON THE PROFILE OF THE CITIZENS' GROUP:

Is there a minimum number of participants for the citizens' group?

There is no minimum or maximum number of people to form a citizens' group. The group must be sufficiently large to ensure a certain level of representation on a given issue. 

Should the citizens' collective be local or international?

The project should focus on a local and national context, with a deep-rooted social cause connected to this territory.

Does the citizen group have to be composed exclusively of people under 35 years of age?

As indicated by the guidelines, at least 75 % % of the citizen group must be made up of people under 35 years of age. The important thing is that the project is clearly led by young people, giving their voices, decision-making ability, and visibility a leading role within the process. 

Does the citizens' group (principals) have to be already constituted or created as a result of the project?

The project must begin with a citizen-driven group that is interested in participating in a project of this nature and that will later be strengthened through mediation work. This group can be reconfigured depending on what happens along the course of the project, but it must be present from the beginning of the proposal. The citizen group is the reason for the existence of the project.

Does the citizen group have to be legally registered?

No, it can be a group of any nature and informal. It does not need to be legally registered or constituted as an association or registered in the civil registry as a group.

If we present a proposal only as a group of citizens and without a mediator, are we going to be treated any worse?

No, if you are selected for a project that does not propose a mediation profile, Concomitentes will take care of finding a person who meets your needs and who can accompany you in your process.

Is it possible for two collectives united by a common cause to present themselves, one constituted as an association and the other not?

Yes, it is possible. The ‘citizen group’ can be an aggregation of various associations or independent groups.

Once the group is formed, can more interested people join?

Yes, there is what we call a ‘driving group’ with the members of the citizens' group who will be there throughout the process, and others, collaborators, inhabitants of the village where the initiative is being developed, among others, who can expand the group of participants at different times.

Does the group of sponsors receive any financial compensation for their participation in the project? 

The group of comitentes is the one who raises a desire, conflict, or need, and who undertakes the commissioning of a work of art to address it. Their role is to request that the project be initiated and participate in the process; in other words, the group of citizens could be considered to be requesting a service that the project provides. In the projects of Concomitentes, the workload must be assumed by the mediator and, subsequently, by the mediator and/or artist(s). Both the mediation process and the creation and production of the work are covered by the project budget. In return for their participation, the group receives the resulting work of art, of which it will be the owner.

FIGURE OF THE ARTIST:

Can an artist apply?

No, this is a call addressed to citizen groups, who want to respond through an artistic proposal to a problem in their environment, together with a mediator. The figure of the artist appears at the end of the process, once the commission has been developed, which includes the conclusions of the mediation and which will guide the artistic production.

Are the commissioners involved in the artistic process?

Yes. The commissioners participate in the co-design alongside a professional artist, contributing the context, needs, and framework of the commission. Through mediation, the artist and the collective work together to define the proposal. Participation in the creation or material production of the work will depend on the methodology of each artist and what they agree upon with the collective, but it is not necessary or possible in all cases.

Can any type of artist be selected for creation?

Yes. There are no specific requirements regarding nationality, discipline, or format; however, it will be positively valued if you have experience or interest in participatory processes and that your practice can respond to the needs of the collective. You can be emerging or established artists; in the latter case, your track record and recognition in the artistic field will be taken into account; it is common to seek profiles with a presence or representation in some national artistic institution of relevance. 

Who proposes the artist?

The mediator, as a professional in the cultural sector, will be the one who proposes various profiles that he considers suitable to fulfill the assignment, taking into account their practice and track record. The selection will always be done in a dialogic manner with the citizen group, who will also be able to propose artists for evaluation. 

Is there an artists' network to which one can subscribe in order to be considered for artistic projects?

No, all artists can be selected; the selection process is in the hands of the mediator, who makes the initial proposal, and the group of commissioners who end up defining the artist who will develop the artwork.

Should the candidature include an artistic proposal?

No, at the start of the project it is not possible to know what kind of artistic intervention will emerge. Insofar as this intervention is the result of consensus with a group of citizens, the decision has to be made afterwards, when all the people involved in the project have spoken and defined the artistic commission that will inspire the work.

Can the work be produced by a collective of artists or does it have to be an individual artist?

Just as the format of the works is open, so is the format of the creative figure. Therefore, it can be an individual figure or an artistic collective.

Is there a specific time requirement for convening the artist?

For the effectiveness of the project, the mediator will establish a coherent timeline for the proper development of the concomitant process. This timeline should include a period for mediation, another for the selection of the artist, and finally, another for the presentation of the pre-project and the production process of the work. The selection of the artist usually takes place around the 7th month of the process.

RELATIONSHIP WITH CONCOMITANTS:

What will the relationship with Concomitentes be like throughout the project?

There will be a constant and daily exchange and collaboration with the mediator. We will integrate them into our team to share good practices, improve and enrich the process by resolving doubts or unraveling issues that arise along the way so that the project is successful. This will be done through informal meetings or conversations, or by inviting them to participate in our events.

Can Concomitentes help us in our search for funding?

Yes, depending on the artistic proposal and the specific needs of the project, it is possible that the budget may need to be increased. In this case, both the mediator and the people working in the Coordination Office will look for possible partnerships.

The aim is that public institutions or municipalities operating in these local contexts, including national level calls, get involved with the projects and support them in some way.

What will be the relationship with the Concomitant team after the concomitance has ended?

The call for proposals aims to develop a specific project, but we understand that the life of a concomitance does not necessarily end with the completion of the project. Many of the works and connections generated continue to develop over time, and whenever possible, at Concomitentes we try to continue accompanying these processes and the collective. 

BUDGET AND FINANCIAL JUSTIFICATION:

How does the financial justification by the mediator work out?

The mediation fees and production costs are distributed over different work phases, which will be reflected in the corresponding collaboration agreement. Payments and justification will always be made by invoice. Concomitants will provide a financial tracking document and will review with the mediator, at follow-up meetings, the budget execution and the needs of each phase. 

Does the budget cover the purchase of materials?

Yes, it is included, the only thing that is not included in the budget is the communication and documentation work (video and photos), which is covered by the general budget of Concomitentes.

Are the costs for the production of the work also for the meetings with the participants?

As these are long-term processes, there are intermediate milestones, presentations or events that would be incorporated into the artistic production budget. The mediation budget is only to remunerate the work of the mediator, who is the one who accumulates the main burden of the project.

FORM AND APPLICATION:

What is the form like?

It is a short answer form, with very limited characters, which serves to give a global and general overview of the idea to be developed. It cannot include, in this first phase, a dossier or attached information.

What should the proposal not include?

A budget, an artistic proposal and specific partnerships for the co-financing of the project.

If my project is pre-selected, what does the subsequent support process consist of?

First, we sent a document explaining what kind of information we are looking for for the second phase dossier. We also highlighted key points that we would like to clarify or that we think it would be interesting to develop further so that the jury can evaluate them properly. In addition, we hold an online consultation session with the Concomitentes technical team, who is responsible for the initial pre-selection. The goal of this session is to improve the projects and, above all, to orient them towards the Concomitentes methodology so that the committee receives as concrete a set of projects as possible.

How many projects are selected in the second phase? If not selected, may other opportunities arise for the project in the future?

A total of two will be selected. Due to budget constraints, it can never be guaranteed that any of the other preselected projects will be carried out in the future, but it is something that can happen.

Who sits on the evaluation committee?

One person from Concomitentes, one person from the Daniel and Nina Carasso Foundation, one person from the Spain in Liberty Commissioner – 50 years old – and at least 3 experts in cultural, political or social participation fields. The profiles of these last will be published on the Concomitentes website.