From the Legislature to the world: Córdoba's metal art reaches international markets

The Creative Industries cluster project, linked to the Cámara de Industriales Metalúrgicos y de Componentes de Córdoba (CIMCC), was presented on Tuesday at the provincial Legislature. Artists and leaders from Córdoba's industrial and cultural sectors attended.

On Tuesday, the Córdoba Legislature hosted the launch of Jardín Doméstico, an innovative project by the Grupo Exportador Metal Arte that aims to take metal art by leading Córdoba artists to international markets. The initiative is part of the Cluster de Industrias Creativas y Culturales de Córdoba, linked to the Cámara de Industriales Metalúrgicos y de Componentes de Córdoba (CIMCC), and is supported by the province's Agencia Competitividad, among other institutions.

The launch was attended by Gustavo Del Boca, president of the Cámara de Industriales Metalúrgicos y de Componentes de Córdoba; Mariano Almada, Secretary of Culture of the Municipality of Córdoba; Valentina Astudillo, representing the Agencia Competitividad; Federico Menis, General Director of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at the Legislature; Verónica Molas, curator of the traveling exhibition; Belén Pistone, one of the cluster's founders; and other officials and leaders.

During the presentation, Astudillo highlighted the value of Córdoba's metal art in the export context and said that "synergy, innovation and internationalization are the keys to bringing local talent to global markets, driving competitiveness and opportunities in this sector."

Several artists who are already producing works adapted to the export market also attended. The group includes Trinidad Caminos, Emilia Córdoba, Guillermo Losano, Miguel Ángel Rodríguez, Pablo Rocha and Inés Rozze, who presented art objects ready for the international market.

The Grupo Exportador Metal Arte, formed in 2023 with the "Objeto de Arte" project, aims to bring these works to international markets and create new business opportunities for local artists.

Since its formation, it has built a solid process for creating and valuing artworks for export. This effort is backed by institutions such as ProCórdoba and the Agencia para el Desarrollo Económico de la Ciudad de Córdoba (ADEC), and draws on specialized export training for the visual arts.

"Jardín Doméstico is a project that respects each artist's individual aesthetic, but with an approach that allows the works to travel and be shipped. The goal is to create pieces of high artistic value that can enter international fairs and events, giving local artists a solid platform for global reach," said Molas.

The key to the project lies in the artists' ability to create sculptures that combine aesthetics and function, meeting the requirements of the interior design market, a sector experiencing significant growth internationally. Without losing their creative identity, each artist has designed works that can be produced in series, making it easier to enter these niches.