Abstract

In the north of Medellín, located high up in the eastern hills, in the Santo Domingo neighbourhood, we find Latin America`s only “Urban Museum of Memory” – an open-air gallery of colourful murals to remember the origin and the history of this particular sector of the city. For many years Santo Domingo was almost exclusively known for gang violence and this urban reality of Medellín changed just a few years ago. A group of local artists decided to participate actively in the change of their area and set up a community-run initiative based on education and social interaction to bring hope to the locals living in this excluded part of the city. A key element of this project is the history of the neighbourhood itself based on migration and poverty but is also full of dreams and hopes of those who escaped from the civil war or the poverty in the countryside. A particular aspect of the recent history of Santo Domingo is the urban conflict that lasted practically from the years of Pablo Escobar until today. These conditions influenced the daily life of the barrio and formed the character and community boundaries until today. 

On this tour meet representatives of the community and local artists and explore the urban gallery guided by the locals themselves. The stories told are sometimes sad, sometimes happy but always express the love and dedication to the resistance of the locals to their territory built on steep hills of the valley.

Support directly the local community project and help them to go on with this unique work spreading hope and good vibes to the younger generations.