CCA Andratx: Contemporary Art at the Foot of the Tramuntana
As summer loosens its grip and the October light turns low and golden, there is a place in Andratx where the rhythm of the year follows the studio calendar rather than the tourist one. Every month, four artists arrive from different corners of the world, unpack their bags and settle into a studio beneath the Serra de Tramuntana. They stay for thirty days. And when they leave, something of what they have made stays behind. CCA Andratx is not simply a place where art is shown. Above all, it is a place where art is made.
A Cloister for Art in South-West Mallorca
Centro Cultural Andratx opened its doors in 2001, founded by Patricia and Jacob Asbaek, who are connected to the Galerie Asbaek in Copenhagen. Today it covers some 4,000 m² with the feel of a cloister, its galleries arranged around courtyards open to the light. It is one of the island's largest contemporary art centres, and one of the few in Mallorca to combine exhibition and production under one roof, at the foot of a mountain range listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Four Studios, Four Colours: the Heart of the CCA
The centre itself describes its residency programme as its heart. Each month, four international artists spend a month working in four studios named after colours: Azul, Rojo, Amarillo and Verde. The idea is simple and generous: freedom to explore, experiment and develop their work without restrictions.
At the end of their stay, the artists are invited to donate a piece to the centre, and it becomes part of its future exhibition programme. So as you walk through the galleries, you may well come across works that were born right here, in the same light and before the same landscape you are looking at. Mallorca is not just the backdrop; it is part of the material.
Open Studios: Meet the People Behind the Work
One of the CCA's most distinctive experiences is its Open Studios. One Saturday a month, the residency studios open their doors from 11am to 2pm, with free entry. It is a chance to see the process before the result: half-finished canvases, sketches pinned to the walls and conversations with the artists about what they are searching for. Dates may change, so it is worth checking the centre's calendar before you plan your visit.
October Opens a New Season
Autumn brings a change of cycle. On Friday 2 October, from 5pm to 8pm, the CCA opens three new exhibitions. In Kunsthalle I, La casa llena de pájaros y la cabeza sin barrer brings together six artists: Alejandro Almanza Pereda, Cynthia Gutiérrez, Reiko Hamano, Claudia Peña Salinas, Emanuel Tovar and Luis Alfonso Villalobos. Gallery II presents Wild Orchids & Other Mothers by Helga Schmidhuber and Truth Liberates Fear - Time Shapes by Holger Schmidhuber. All three run from 3 October 2026 to 27 February 2027, leaving plenty of time to discover them in the calm of autumn or winter.
Hands in the Clay: a Ceramics Workshop
For those who would rather create than look, the centre is running a ceramics workshop in October together with Sabia Ceramic Studio. No previous experience is needed. Sessions take place on 2, 17 and 24 October from 11am to 1.30pm, and on 9 October from 3.30pm to 6pm. Places are booked by email, as explained in the CCA's events calendar.
Planning Your Visit
The CCA is open from Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 6pm, and its café serves from 11am to 5pm. It is in the village of Andratx, a few minutes' drive from Port d'Andratx. If you go on a Wednesday, you can combine it with the weekly market and a stroll through the old town. And if rain threatens, it is one of the best things to do in Mallorca on a grey day. You will find more ideas in our Culture and History section.
Back at La Pérgola, our rooms are ready for you to unwind, and our team will help you fit the visit into your stay through our services. Would you like to plan an autumn cultural getaway? Get in touch with us.
