Slow Art Day 2026 is just over a week away – and more big news: Bogotá, Colombia joins the growing global movement toward citywide Slow Art Day celebrations.

This inaugural citywide in Bogotá is led by Mauricio Ávila, Consejero Distrital de Infraestructura Cultural (District Advisor for Cultural Infrastructure), and centered in San Felipe Distrito Creativo (SF), which is Bogotá’s leading arts district. Often referred to simply as “SF,” the district brings together a dense network of contemporary galleries, artist studios, and creative venues, making it a natural anchor for Bogotá’s citywide Slow Art Day (see map image below).

As part of his role as District Advisor, Ávila decided to launch this first citywide in Bogotá. He was initially inspired by Constanza Ontiveros Valdés — an art writer and cultural project leader – who launched the first citywide Slow Art Day in Mexico City in 2025 and has expanded it in 2026 (more below). As you’ll see below, Ontiveros Valdés was in turn inspired by Pamala Eaton, Janean Baird and the whole team in Bloomington, Illinois who launched the first citywide anywhere.

Building on those examples, Ávila has organized five galleries and art spaces to pilot the Bogotá edition:

• CURCUMA ART CENTER
  A contemporary art space focused on experimentation, emerging artists, and interdisciplinary practices.
• ESTUDIO 74
  A working studio and exhibition space supporting local artists and creative collaboration.
• ESPACIO PERMANENTE
  An independent gallery dedicated to contemporary practices and ongoing artistic dialogue.
• EL AZULEJO SAN FELIPE
  A cultural venue in Bogotá’s San Felipe arts district, known for its vibrant, community-driven programming.
• VII
  A contemporary gallery presenting emerging and experimental artists, with a focus on bold, concept-driven exhibitions and new voices in the Bogotá art scene.

Together, these venues represent a cross-section of the contemporary art scene in SF — from independent galleries to artist-run spaces (see photos below).

We at Slow Art Day HQ are excited to watch the citywide movement spread organically around the world. As noted above, Constanza Ontiveros Valdés in Mexico City was inspired by Pamala Eaton and the BN Artists in Illinois who were the first anywhere to launch a citywide Slow Art Day. Their momentum continues to build. Their original citywide has now expanded into a celebration across Central Illinois — making that the first region-wide Slow Art Day in the world. Meanwhile, the 2025 Mexico City effort proved so successful that Ontiveros Valdés has since built a volunteer team, launched a dedicated website, and organized a coalition of more than 55 museums, galleries, and cultural venues for 2026.

Wow. Wow. Wow.

This deepening of our Slow Art Day movement could not come at a more important time in our divisive, topsy-turvy world. We need more art, we more global cooperation, and we need more community – and thanks to many of you we will have all that again with this year’s Slow Art Day. 

Best, 

Phyl

P.S. As you know, Slow Art Day 2026 is coming up April 11 — register your museum, gallery, church, sculpture park or movie theater for 2026, if you have not yet done so. And maybe start thinking about a citywide celebration next year.