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Tonight, this bridge unites 
each and every one of us.

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It unites all of us 
from this neighborhood

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with those who have come
from elsewhere.

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It unites those who,
different or similar,

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live with us here.

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Whose diversity, whose beauty
and whose richness --

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that diversity which the colors
of this bridge - this night -

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are meant to represent.

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This bridge unites us with a story
that began three years ago.

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When a group from the 
neighborhood of San Cristobal,

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working with the local organizations

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and with the collaboration
of a group of experts

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decided that this spot,

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this spot here where we are tonight,

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would be the place 
to return to participating.

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It would be the place
to return to working,

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to return to unity, and it would also
be the place to begin imagining again.

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At first we didn't believe
that it would be possible.

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We didn't believe it possible to build

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something that would last so long,

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something that would be cared for.

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But of course, how could you not 
care for something you made?

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In 2012, we started to make the plan

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for this huge, transformative idea, 
and in the beginning of 2013 it began.

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Retaking this public space,
step by step,

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action after action, metre after metre.

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In measures we began to
obtain the necessary resources.

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Kids who were no more than a foot tall

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painted first the letters 
and the wall that I have behind me.

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Three months later,
they blocked off traffic

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and put up ladders and scaffolding

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so that moms, dads, kids and grandkids,

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almost 200 people, 
could each paint a diamond

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in order to take back 1700 square
metres of surface area on this bridge.

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In November of 2013, with a container
of wood that a business no longer wanted,

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the people of the neighborhood
made a triangle

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that they would later add with another 
in order to make the furniture

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all around this bridge, which 
you can see with your own eyes.

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They also build the stage 
where I'm standing right now.

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And so, without being painters,
or builders, or artisans,

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even though there were
kids, like I said,

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who came here from
the first day to build,

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who wanted to work the drill,

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we worked as a team to make this space

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what you see tonight: truly beautiful.

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And at this point, a question
comes up: Now what?

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What should we do with this space
that has been reported on,

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has been photographed,
has received awards --

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That has been seen in music videos,

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that has been visited 
by so many from Germany,

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from Paris, from Qatar,
and from Canada.

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What to do with a space on which
so many people have worked?

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And here, ladies and gentlemen, 
is where we come in:

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the boys and girls of the bridge.

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We're a group of kids from
the neighborhood and elsewhere

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who have proposed to make
incredible things happen here,

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things that wouldn't normally happen.

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We've decided to create cultural
experiences with the neighborhood

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here, at this site, at the bridge.

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We are the boys and girls of
the first course of cultural management,

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and we work for the chance to shake up 
our streets, our neighborhood.

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But we also work for the chance 
to wake up our vitality.

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But how do you learn outside of
regulated schools and official training?

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Mainly you learn by practicing,
forming a foundation of good ideas

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and of course a foundation of mistakes.

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Often we had to learn how 
to do things we didn't know,

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and sometimes we had no choice 
but to learn how to do things

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that wouldn't have even occurred to us.

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We had to learn to weld, 
because we needed to build

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a mobile audio-visual device
to make movies.

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We had to learn to use Photoshop
because we needed to make posters

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and scissors and glue 
were not good enough.

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We also had to learn to write press 
releases because we needed publicity.

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And now we're learning public speaking,
because we need to communicate.

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(Applause)

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We've also learned that in a place
like this bridge anything can happen.

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Almost anything.

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It doesn't need to be just
film, dance or theater.

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Or even all three at the same time.

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We could be watching a concert,
listening to the concert

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while we are eating paella,
for example.

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We've organized showings of films
under this bridge that weren't only film.

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We've counted over 100 Charlie Chaplins
in "Charlie Chaplin in Modern Times."

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All wearing bowler derbies 
made in old shops

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and learning to fall and get up
like Chaplin did,

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thanks to the help of
a few specialized acrobats

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who helped us knock each other
around without anyone getting hurt.

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A young poet from the neighborhood,

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with a huge passion for poetry
and spoken word

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inspired the Festival of the Word,

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which gave the opportunity 
to come to this exact spot

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to poets and to rappers,

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to amateurs and to experts.

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We've also learned that theatre
can be whatever you want

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and not what you expect.

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We've collaborated with a group of
professionals who have taught us

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that theatre isn't just going somewhere
to see how others act,

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but that theater can be 
a lively, communal experience.

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The boys and girls of the bridge
have learned in this neighborhood

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that culture isn't just found
in the city centre

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or on the posters in the metro.

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You don't have to be a snob
to make culture.

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Culture is more of a common imagining. 
It comes from the people.

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People like every one of you
who is here,

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people with a first and last name,
with frustrations, fears, and interests.

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People, above all, with
some concerns to be aware of.

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And if you ask us if we'd want to do 
this course in an official location,

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we would say that we now know
that a building, an official location,

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is not the only place where you learn.

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What we learn here in the neighborhood,
complements what we can learn

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in a building.

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And it is precisely that that
has made us specialists.

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We, the boys and girls of the bridge,
are not an exclusive group

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but a mind-set.

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A mind-set that wants
incredible things to happen here.

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Things that will make you
happy to talk about later.

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Right now we're a small group,
but we want to be much bigger

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with more neighbors who are willing
to offer crazy ideas.

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With more kids from all over the city
who are also willing

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to get involved with this neighborhood
or with any other.

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Not to mention with collaborators
and other associations

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who see in this space, in this
colorful bridge, an opportunity.

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Who see this colorful bridge
as a location of freedom.

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We're proud that this neighborhood
can be an example of compromise,

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that this neighborhood can be
an example of creativity,

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and that is is also
an example of energy.

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A neighborhood working on getting rid of 
its reputation of conflict.

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A neighborhood where people know that we
don't need to await change sitting down.

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You are also part of the bridge.

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You encourage this adventure 
and give it life.

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Tonight this bridge unites us all.

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And only 15 minutes out 
of the centre of Madrid,

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this bridge waits for you
with open arms.

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Be welcome.

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Thank you.

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(Applause)