Santamaca, the art corner in Alicante
With a life dedicated to art and bringing it closer to the people, Gertrud Gómez founded Santamaca in Alicante, a meeting point where things are always happening that lead you to discover others.
Gertrud Gómez has an adventurous heart. Her passion for art has led her to visit many places and, thanks to this long and intense journey, she now has a suitcase full of memories that many would envy.
From a young age and guided by her father, she began her journey into the world of art. Peeking behind doors, she was an exceptional witness to everything that happened in her home: artists' gatherings, book clubs, small concerts... It was no surprise that Gertrud decided to study Art Conservation and Restoration, specialising in paper. Nor was it a surprise that her restless spirit led her from her hometown of Elche to spend long periods in Madrid, Barcelona and France, where she carried out projects for the Louvre Museum and the Centre Georges Pompidou, among others. There she met many artists, visited hundreds of art galleries, museums and art collections, and continued to learn paper conservation techniques as well as heritage management.
And then a day came in 1998 when he decided to return to his beloved Alicante and pour all that he had learned into managing the cultural space Las Cigarreras, a cultural and artistic landmark in the city. After 5 years at the helm, Gertrud decided that the time had come to pass the baton and lead her own project with the same determination and courage: Santamaca.
In Alicante, Santamaca is a meeting place where things are always happening that lead you to discover others.
Santamaca is an art space, open and ever-changing, with one clear protagonist: paper. Paper as an artistic medium, as the written word, and as memory. In Alicante, Santamaca is a meeting point where things are always happening that lead you to discover others, with the persistent desire to bring art closer to people, acting as a bridge between artists, musicians, illustrators, and institutions. A place for everyone where you can visit an exhibition by an emerging photographer, listen to a gig, or attend a book launch.
The space that is now Santamaca, at the entrance to the old city gate of Alicante, was a severely neglected area when Gertrud found it. But she saw its enormous potential and, respecting its history and even leaving some of its original details exposed, she turned it, after many hours, care and effort, into the beautiful setting it is today. Santamaca is the result of the purest craftsmanship, as everything, absolutely everything, from the tables and chairs, to the lamps and floors, is handmade by Gertrud. As the newspaper El Mundo published, Santamaca is the exquisite corner of art. A dynamic and endearing place that every curious local from Alicante should visit.
With a life dedicated to art and bringing it closer to the people, Gertrud Gómez founded Santamaca in Alicante, a meeting point where things are always happening that lead you to discover others. Today, Santamaca is a dynamic and charming place that any curious person from Alicante should visit. Monapart Alicante invites you to get to know her.
