I grew up in a wonderful elementary school. There was a cooperative for learning mathematics that funded the camps, which were transformed into mobile classrooms. In the school workshops, they would build playground games (which still exist), bake bread, or crochet. Of course, the carpentry workshop was one of my favorites. We took classes in some neighboring spaces, which meant a couple of weekly walks that were quite an adventure. We enjoyed a great deal of well-managed freedom. Leaving Herminio Almendros School meant an adolescent journey through institutions where I felt I wasn't learning anything. My interest in art seemed to go unheard.

I was fortunate to have great TEACHERS, supportive and committed people. Later, when teaching, I understood and saw the anxiety, the desperation of some children struggling at university to want to materialize their dreams.

The Atelier was founded out of the need of a small group of university students. They were the ones who provided the initial structure; they knew what they wanted to do and how to do it.

After ten years of continuous work, we developed our own methodology, not an imported one, built by the members of Atelier and complemented by a wonderful group of experts in different disciplines who have generously shared their knowledge and experience.

Atelier Romo is a space where action is prioritized over rhetoric, the friction between disciplines, the exchange of ideas and points of view, curiosity and experimentation, self-esteem, empowerment and autonomy.

We went from being a brotherhood, to becoming alternative education, then “Academy of Visual Thinking” and now we want to delve into the idea of deep education, on our own terms.

I want to thank my students for being my teachers and my teachers for sharing their lives.

Sebastián Romo

December 2020

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