Nelly Peñaranda

Master of Arts in Visual Arts and Historian (Universidad de los Andes) with over 30 years of experience leading the transformation and sustainability of the Colombian and international cultural ecosystem.

 

Founder and Director of Fundación Arteria and Periódico Arteria, pioneering platforms for the circulation of visual arts, critical thinking, and audience development.

 

  

My work has brought together the public, private, academic, and international cooperation sectors to design and implement large-scale cultural management models, including biennials, national salons, and internationalization programs in Spain, Italy, the United States, and Sweden.

 

A strong advocate for culture as a fundamental right and as a driver of social cohesion and sustainable development. Recognized with the Orden Manuela Beltrán and the "100 Rostros de la Cultura Colombia" award.Areas of expertise: Strategic direction of cultural projects • Curatorship and research • Cultural management models and consulting • Audience development and collecting • Public-private partnerships • Cultural journalism and media.

 

Education:

- Master of Arts in Visual and Plastic Arts – Universidad de los Andes

- Bachelor of Arts in History – Universidad de los Andes

 

Professional Experience:

 

- 2006 – Present. Director & Founder / Director & Cultural Manager – Fundación Arteria & Periódico Arteria

 

- Leadership in national strategic consultancies (e.g., Management model for the Centro Cultural Teatro Amira de la Rosa – Banco de la República; pre-production for BOG27). 

 

- Creation and implementation of the Nuskool project to promote collecting at international fairs (ArtLima, ArtMiami, FIA Caracas). 

 

- General coordination of national and international events: National Salons of Artists (editions 43 to 47), the Colombian pavilion at ARCO Madrid 2015, Burning Man, and Open Art Sweden. 

 

- Direction of the only mass media outlet specialized in visual and plastic arts in Colombia (71 printed editions distributed nationwide; digital version affiliated with Voz de América). 

 

- Director and host of the interview program #HablemosenArteria, and director of #OtroDíaMás — audiovisual formats that have together produced over 600 episodes, broadcast on Instagram, Facebook, and the Periódico Arteria YouTube channel.

 

- Direction of large-scale training and circulation programs such as ArteCircuitos (+80 editions, +120k beneficiaries).

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- 2022 – 2023. Editorial Coordinator, Director of Research and author of the Historical Memory narrative document for the Cultural Area – Asociación de Egresados de la Universidad de Los Andes – Uniandinos

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- 2021 – 2022. External Advisor for conceptual design, support, and methodological development – Gran Foro de Arte, Cultura, Creatividad y Tecnología (GFACCT 2022) 

  - Event organized by the Ministry of Culture, Colombia Crea Talento (CoCrea), and the Asociación Colombiana de Facultades de Administración (Ascolfa).

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- 2020 – 2024. Curator and Speaker of the Cultural Area – Club El Nogal 

  - Planning of activities around cultural topics.

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- 2019. Head of Research – Documentary series "Lo que el arte no olvida" (Quintacolor – Canal 13) 

  - Project nominated in the Regional Documentary Series category at the TAL Awards (Latin American Television) in 2020.

 

- 2011 – 2018. Visual Arts Columnist – El Tiempo newspaper, Colombia

  - Writing critical articles and analysis on visual and plastic arts. 

  - Coverage of exhibitions and artist profiles. 

  - Contribution to cultural debate and the dissemination of the visual arts.

 

- 2001 – 2009. General Coordinator of exhibition projects and commercial activities – Galería El Museo (Colombia) and Galería Fernando Pradilla (Spain)

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 - Management of exhibition projects and commercial activities in Europe, Asia, Latin America, and North America.

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- 2001 – 2005. Visual Arts Columnist – Cambio magazine, Colombia 

- Publication of analysis, reviews, and opinion pieces on the contemporary art scene and cultural management. 

- Journalistic research and follow-up on artistic production, emerging movements, and events in the visual arts sector. 

- Generation of content aimed at the dissemination of the plastic arts and the promotion of critical thinking in the arts.

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- 2001 – 2002. Scriptwriter and Researcher – Soñarte pedagogical program (Señal Colombia)

  - Research, conceptualization, and development of pedagogical content on art and culture. 

  - Writing and structuring of audiovisual scripts focused on artistic training and cultural dissemination. 

  - Collaboration with production teams and pedagogical specialists to adapt analytical and visual concepts into television and interactive formats.

 

- 1997 – 2009. General Coordination of exhibition projects and commercial activities in North America – Galería El Museo

 

- 1996 – 2009. Coordination and Curation – Alternativos en Proceso project (Galería El Museo, Colombia)

  - Focus on promoting young talent on the national art scene.

 

- 1991 – 1997. Director of the Introduction to Visual and Plastic Arts program – Atena Escuela de Arte, Bogotá

  - Focused on early childhood arts education, stimulating creative development and plastic expression in young children.

 

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Recognitions:

 

- 2024. Recognition from the Museo de Arte de Pereira for contributions and management in the plastic arts, culture, and their dissemination.

- 2019. Orden Manuela Beltrán, awarded by the Asamblea Departamental de Santander, the highest recognition of the Department of Santander, which exalts the work of women who stand out for their service, work, and performance for the benefit of their communities.

- 2019. Recognition from the Asociación de Egresados de la Universidad de Los Andes in the Cultural Journalism category, for her management, achievements, and contributions to Uniandinos and the cultural sector.

- 2018. Recognition as one of the "100 Rostros de la Cultura Colombia," presented by the Ministry of Culture, highlighting her contribution to the cultural transformation of the country.

- 2016. Honorable Mention from the Museo Bolivariano de Arte Contemporáneo de Santa Marta for her commitment and journalistic sensitivity through Periódico Arteria.

- 2011. Recognition from the Museo de Arte de Caldas for contributions to the plastic arts, culture, and their dissemination.

 

Publications:

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- 2026. Co-author of the chapter "La cultura, un laboratorio para la construcción de sociedad" (*Culture as a Laboratory for Social Construction*) in the book *Debate*, published by Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial, edited by Fernando Carrillo and André Viana. Also published in *Colombia 2050: 65 voces para construir hoy en el país del futuro (Colombia 2050: 65 voices shaping the country of the future today).

 

Contact: nelly.penaranda@fundacionarteria.org / info@fundacionarteria.org

 

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