The word "map" originates from the Latin "mappa", which meant "napkin" or "cloth". This term was used to form "mappa mundi", meaning "map of the world," as early maps were often drawn on cloth.
map noun or verb
/mæp/
1 : a diagrammatic representation of an area of land or sea showing features, for example, geographical, geological, or geopolitical.
2 : map something to discover or give information about something, especially the way it is arranged or organized.At Artist Ally, we believe that growth starts with orientation — knowing where you are, who’s around you, and how to connect.
That’s why we’ve created Artist Maps: living guides to the Barcelona art ecosystem, designed to help international, immigrant, and emerging artists find their place, faster.
Each map focuses on a different medium or neighbourhood, highlighting trusted local collaborators, resources, and creative spaces that understand artists’ needs.
Whether you’re a photographer seeking centre cívics open to exhibitions, a painter looking for an artist-run gallery, a ceramicist searching for kilns and material suppliers, or a new media artist needing access to tech labs and residencies… there’s a map for you.
These maps were built from lived experience — from years of walking, talking, and connecting with the people who make this city’s creative pulse.
They’re designed to make your learning curve shorter, your network stronger, and your practice more sustainable.
“We’ve walked these streets and mapped these out with strategy. The maps are our way of making the invisible visible — of helping newcomers orient, connect, and thrive faster.”
This page is a growing ecosystem — we’ll keep adding new maps as our research and collaborations expand.
👉 To access the full maps and updates, subscribe to the Artist Ally Circle — it’s free, and it connects you directly to the people and places shaping Barcelona’s creative landscape.
Because Even Artists Need Directions Sometimes.
🗺️ How to Use the Maps
There’s no mystery here — simplicity is the key.
Each Artist Ally Map is a Google Maps list, curated around a specific neighbourhood, medium, or type of artist.
Each location includes short tags describing its focus, whether it’s a gallery open to emerging artists, a makerspace for experimentation, or a café that doubles as a creative hub.
Just scroll below, choose the map that fits your current journey, and start exploring.
We encourage you not only to visit these places but to reach out, connect, and introduce yourself.
That’s where real collaboration begins — outside the screen, in the living fabric of the city.
Enjoy mapping your path 🌱
📍 Artist Ally Maps
Below are our current curated maps. Each one a doorway into a different corner of Barcelona’s creative ecosystem.
[BCN] Makerspaces Map — 8 places
[BCN] High Quality Printing & Cuts Map — 5 places
[BCN] Hospitalet Arts & Culture Map — 15 places
[BCN] New Media Artist’s Map — 8 places
[BCN] Photographer’s Map — 8 places
(Each is directly linked to its Google Maps list.)
Featured: Certified Allies on the Map 💜
Among the many creative spaces featured in our maps, some hold a special place — our Certified Allies.
These are artist-focused spaces, studios, galleries, and shops that have gone one step further by partnering directly with Artist Ally to support our Circle of subscribers.
You’ll find them marked on our maps, offering real-world benefits such as:
⇢ Discounts on services and production
⇢ Priority access to open calls and bookings
⇢ Invitations to exhibitions, talks, and collaborations
They’re more than partners — they’re part of our ecosystem, helping international, immigrant, and emerging artists not just navigate Barcelona, but truly belong here.
If you’d like to meet them all, discover their stories, and see what perks are waiting for you, explore the full feature:
Want to See Spaces Here?
Our Maps are always growing — and we love discovering new spaces, galleries, shops, and projects that align with our mission of supporting artists in Barcelona and beyond.
Drop us a message if you’d like to create a map in collaboration with us or know a place that would be a perfect fit for our current ones. Write to us at [email protected] or send us a message on Instagram.
Together, we can expand the areas covered by these maps and keep building a web where artists feel supported, connected, and at home.
