About Us
Who We Are?
Belles Arts Fco. Valderrama is at The Service of Art since 1981. There are 44 years of experience with consolidated maturity thanks to the strong boost and enthusiasm of their directors Francisco Valderrama, Araceli Carreño and also their teaching team. Professionalism, both personal and educational, the whole team together with its personal slope and humanity, have been key for been recognized as one of the best centres of Art not certified throughout Catalonia.
The obvious success of the centre is based on its unique and particular teaching style: with a completely academic management and technique adapted to the needs and trends of each student, opening the door to the purest realism and the latest cutting-edge trends, achieving the best results at all levels. Through a completely personalized way of teaching, with its own particular formula is something as simple as putting theory into practice, and art spread through other complementary activities like lectures, commented visits to museums, artistic advice…
Belles Arts Fco. Valderrama gets to The Art Word to people of all ages and conditions.
Brief Story
The history of our centre started with a trial period in April 1981 to see the viability of a painting school in Gava, as a result of the proposal done by Francisco Valderrama at Gava´s City Hall.
Given the splendid response from Gava´s pupils, Escuela de Dibujo y Pintura de Gavà was created; its first location was on the basement in Torre Lluch. A beautiful space with ceilings of arches vaulted of brickwork where the director and unique teacher, Francisco Valderrama, stood up in front of nothing but 50 students. Here was where he painted the mural of l’Hermitage of Bruguers, Gava´s City Hall whishes.
Given the pupils success, Gava´s City Hall decided to grant the school and provide a new name Escuela Municipal de Dibujo y Pintura de Gavà, where from that moment a pilgrimage started to other locations like the old Barber´s shop behind Torre Lluch, the old premises of the Local Police, also an apartment in C/Gaudí, and Casal Sant Jordi.
From then on the school started to grow in students and teachers, so the name changed into l’Atelier, la Escuela de Dibujo y Pintura de Gavà. In 1996 it changed again and stills its current location Casa Municipal de Cultura American Lake, magnificent enclave with a garden ideal for life class drawing.
From 2004 with its actual name Belles Arts Fco Valderrama, is sharing two Fine Schools, American Lake in Gavà and the other one based in Centre-Montmar borough in Castelldefels.
We have been and we will be always with you.
Francisco Valderrama y Araceli Carreño.
Teachers and Academic Mangement
- FRANCISCO VALDERRAMA TORRES
- ARACELI CARREÑO LÓPEZ
- MARINA SÁNCHEZ GÓMEZ
- LAURA SEGURA JUÁREZ
- RAUL GRABAU MAESTRO
- AITOR VELA MORA
- ONA SIERRA PEQUÍN
- IRENE GRAU LÓPEZ
- NOELIA SÁNCHEZ AZNAR
Francisco Valderrama Torres
Founder of Belles Arts Fco. Valderrama
Araceli Carreño López
Director of Belles Arts Fco. Valderrama
Mercè Giralt Pérez
Management and Coordination Belles Arts Fco. Valderrama