Tonight, this bridge unites each and every one of us.
It unites all of us from this neighborhood
with those who have come from elsewhere.
It unites those who, different or similar,
live with us here.
Whose diversity, whose beauty and whose richness --
that diversity which the colors of this bridge - this night -
are meant to represent.
This bridge unites us with a story that began three years ago.
When a group from the neighborhood of San Cristobal,
working with the local organizations
and with the collaboration of a group of experts
decided that this spot,
this spot here where we are tonight,
would be the place to return to participating.
It would be the place to return to working,
to return to unity, and it would also be the place to begin imagining again.
At first we didn't believe that it would be possible.
We didn't believe it possible to build
something that would last so long,
something that would be cared for.
But of course, how could you not care for something you made?
In 2012, we started to make the plan
for this huge, transformative idea, and in the beginning of 2013 it began.
Retaking this public space, step by step,
action after action, metre after metre.
In measures we began to obtain the necessary resources.
Kids who were no more than a foot tall
painted first the letters and the wall that I have behind me.
Three months later, they blocked off traffic
and put up ladders and scaffolding
so that moms, dads, kids and grandkids,
almost 200 people, could each paint a diamond
in order to take back 1700 square metres of surface area on this bridge.
In November of 2013, with a container of wood that a business no longer wanted,
the people of the neighborhood made a triangle
that they would later add with another in order to make the furniture
all around this bridge, which you can see with your own eyes.
They also build the stage where I'm standing right now.
And so, without being painters, or builders, or artisans,
even though there were kids, like I said,
who came here from the first day to build,
who wanted to work the drill,
we worked as a team to make this space
what you see tonight: truly beautiful.
And at this point, a question comes up: Now what?
What should we do with this space that has been reported on,
has been photographed, has received awards --
That has been seen in music videos,
that has been visited by so many from Germany,
from Paris, from Qatar, and from Canada.
What to do with a space on which so many people have worked?
And here, ladies and gentlemen, is where we come in:
the boys and girls of the bridge.
We're a group of kids from the neighborhood and elsewhere
who have proposed to make incredible things happen here,
things that wouldn't normally happen.
We've decided to create cultural experiences with the neighborhood
here, at this site, at the bridge.
We are the boys and girls of the first course of cultural management,
and we work for the chance to shake up our streets, our neighborhood.
But we also work for the chance to wake up our vitality.
But how do you learn outside of regulated schools and official training?
Mainly you learn by practicing, forming a foundation of good ideas
and of course a foundation of mistakes.
Often we had to learn how to do things we didn't know,
and sometimes we had no choice but to learn how to do things
that wouldn't have even occurred to us.
We had to learn to weld, because we needed to build
a mobile audio-visual device to make movies.
We had to learn to use Photoshop because we needed to make posters
and scissors and glue were not good enough.
We also had to learn to write press releases because we needed publicity.
And now we're learning public speaking, because we need to communicate.
(Applause)
We've also learned that in a place like this bridge anything can happen.
Almost anything.
It doesn't need to be just film, dance or theater.
Or even all three at the same time.
We could be watching a concert, listening to the concert
while we are eating paella, for example.
We've organized showings of films under this bridge that weren't only film.
We've counted over 100 Charlie Chaplins in "Charlie Chaplin in Modern Times."
All wearing bowler derbies made in old shops
and learning to fall and get up like Chaplin did,
thanks to the help of a few specialized acrobats
who helped us knock each other around without anyone getting hurt.
A young poet from the neighborhood,
with a huge passion for poetry and spoken word
inspired the Festival of the Word,
which gave the opportunity to come to this exact spot
to poets and to rappers,
to amateurs and to experts.
We've also learned that theatre can be whatever you want
and not what you expect.
We've collaborated with a group of professionals who have taught us
that theatre isn't just going somewhere to see how others act,
but that theater can be a lively, communal experience.
The boys and girls of the bridge have learned in this neighborhood
that culture isn't just found in the city centre
or on the posters in the metro.
You don't have to be a snob to make culture.
Culture is more of a common imagining. It comes from the people.
People like every one of you who is here,
people with a first and last name, with frustrations, fears, and interests.
People, above all, with some concerns to be aware of.
And if you ask us if we'd want to do this course in an official location,
we would say that we now know that a building, an official location,
is not the only place where you learn.
What we learn here in the neighborhood, complements what we can learn
in a building.
And it is precisely that that has made us specialists.
We, the boys and girls of the bridge, are not an exclusive group
but a mind-set.
A mind-set that wants incredible things to happen here.
Things that will make you happy to talk about later.
Right now we're a small group, but we want to be much bigger
with more neighbors who are willing to offer crazy ideas.
With more kids from all over the city who are also willing
to get involved with this neighborhood or with any other.
Not to mention with collaborators and other associations
who see in this space, in this colorful bridge, an opportunity.
Who see this colorful bridge as a location of freedom.
We're proud that this neighborhood can be an example of compromise,
that this neighborhood can be an example of creativity,
and that is is also an example of energy.
A neighborhood working on getting rid of its reputation of conflict.
A neighborhood where people know that we don't need to await change sitting down.
You are also part of the bridge.
You encourage this adventure and give it life.
Tonight this bridge unites us all.
And only 15 minutes out of the centre of Madrid,
this bridge waits for you with open arms.
Be welcome.
Thank you.
(Applause)