Space and Facilities
Metáfora is housed in an old factory buiding. The space is around 850 square metres, split in two studio-buildings joined by a small courtyard. For a long time the location was used by the Catalan National Theatre for rehearsals, and this gives Metáfora a wonderful and inspiring mix of industrial aesthetic and theatrical atmosphere.
The heart of the school is the big hall, where some of the students on the International Workshop have a small personal studio space. Other students have studio spaces in the “new studio”, next to the main building of Metáfora.
All the studios have division walls and are equipped with basic furniture and studio easels. We encourage students to make their studio space their own, as it will be "home" for an entire year. There are several spaces for additional use; the Big Hall, “Aula 4”,and the “Yellow Room”. In these spaces students can work on a big scale, in darkness or on temporary installation projects.
Because of its plants and lovely warm atmosphere, the courtyard is one of the spaces preferred by many students of Metáfora. Here it is possible to work in open air and with materials that require a high degree of ventilation. Metáfora does not have the technical facilities of a big university or public institution, but every year we extend our work-facilities and our recourses grow.
The courtyard is a double-purpose area - most of the students enjoy hanging out there during their breaks, but it also a place for working with “volatile” materials (or when ventilation is needed) like plaster, resin and other casting materials.
Please make sure that you keep the sink unclogged (never throw plaster into the sink!!).
We also keep the pressure washer for washing screens in this area.
Signing out resources
Any object or equipment, which the school authorises you to borrow (tripods, projectors, cameras, etc.) must be signed out at the office and returned the same day, unless specifically authorised. Borrowed items taken outside the premises are the student's responsibility, when outside the school. You will be kept responsible for theft or any damage.
Art-materials
Materials run on the students's account . We are aware that most students have very limited budgets; we encourage low budget art making (finding things in the street is often a good solution) and have a very realistic approach to buying art-materials.
In most workshops we give samples for students to try out a certain technique, but after that we expect them to purchase their own materials.
On the first day of the course, a material list will be distributed, in which we indicate the best and cheapest places for buying materials.
Art-materials (including brushes, Stanley-knives, paper, scissors, etc) in the Art-therapy rooms at the school are not available for students on the International Workshop to use. General studio facilities All students have their own studio space and easels, tables, additional lighting and shelves are available according to the individual needs of every student.
Drawing boards and other basic utensils are also available on request.
Extra partition walls can be put up (or be removed) on request. Students are welcome to bring their own furniture and keep their materials and art works in the studio.
Tool and welding area
Facilities and technical data:
The tool area is equipped with power tools and basic equipment for wood and metal work.
The welding station is ARC welding. Metáfora provides electrodes. Any screws, nails, staples etc. you find by the tool-table are yours to use, but if you need more, you must buy them. Metáfora provides paper for the sander, drill-bits, blades for the saw etc.
You are also welcome to take the old wood, iron, recycled stretchers, boards, etc.
The Darkroom
Facilities and technical data:
Metáfora's darkroom has three enlargers, 2 for 35 mill printing and one medium format enlarger. All enlargers use multigrade filter. You can print large photographs by turning the enlarger-head around.
The darkroom is equipped with a light box and other basic tools for developing and processing b/w prints and negatives. At the office we have tripods, reflex cameras and a Polaroid camera available for the students to use. Liquids are available for free, unless you use vast amounts. Paper is provided during workshops only.
Studio Photography
Facilities and technical data:
The school has two settings where students can work with studio photography.
Metáfora has backdrops, studio lights, tripods and shades.
Sewing Room
Facilities and technical data:
In the sewing room you will find an Alpha sewing machine and iron /iron board.
Using the sewing machine should always happen after previous instructions by a tutor.
There is also a small supply of white and black cotton thread, needles and paper for pattern making and several pattern magazines. The school has several mannequins for testing designs.
Screen printing
Facilities and technical data:
Metáfora has recently acquired facilities for basic screen printing.
The courtyard has a specially designed area for power washing screens.
Emulsion is available for free, and basic exposure facilities are available in the darkroom.
Use of the screen printing facilities should always happen after previous instructions by a tutor.
Facilities and technical data:
Metáfora has three desktop PCs available for students use, as well as two laptops available for signing out in the office. The computers have Internet Connection (4mb) with Wi-Fi, and have most software installed for digital image making and layout: Photoshop, Illustrator, Quark Express, InDesign, DreamWeaver, PowerPoint, etc.
We also have a scanner, and you are welcome to transfer images from your own digital camera or from the one belonging to the school. The school has a card reader, which reads most card formats, as well as several pen drives (useful for file transfers and taking images to be printed outside the school) available for signing out at the office.
Metáfora has a computer technician on call for maintenance and repairs of the school's computers. If you need technical assistance with your own computer, this can be arranged at the school for a very reasonable price.
Metáfora works with PCs and we do not have much experience with Apple Mac.
Video projectors
Metáfora has three video-projector.
These are available for presentations only and cannot not be used for art-projects in the studios. If you wish to present you work using your own computer, make sure you try the projector before your presentation (Apple Mac need adaptors).
Printing images and making backups of your files
Should you wish to print in b/w, please ask Anna at the office. For printing in colour we recommend digital photocopies at Ecodisseny, a copy-shop near the school. They are very nice, cheap and used to our “weird” and demanding projects.
Printing large colour prints form a file is possible at Hangar, an artist workshop run by the City Council. Using their Colour plotter is very cheap. They have two technicians available for printing.