Violet Davila He deeply admires his father, has rediscovered the joy of self-care and feels a visceral fascination for culture. From the first was born his vocation for law. The second is a consequence of his relationship with Laconicum (We don't say it, she tells it). And from the third thing was born Cooltural Plans, the materialization of his need to create something related to the cultural management.
It all started eight or nine years ago, when I had a reading club that began to gain followers, bringing in writers, to gain more followers. So many that they began to think that there was a space there to create something professional, but with the same philosophy of cultural revolution. Today, seven years later, Cooltural Plans is a communication and cultural management agency, but it continues to be a meeting place, like that reading club. And Violeta continues devouring books with the candle BYREDO Library lit in a corner.
We spoke with Violeta Dávila, co-founder of Cooltural Plans
What is Cooltural Plans?
It is our particular way of experiencing culture, of interacting with it, of enjoying it and spreading it.
You talk about interaction, about living culture... But you also talk about revolution. How do you revolutionize the way we live culture?
When we started Cooltural Plans, 7 years ago, we found the cultural offering somewhat exclusive, either because it was developed in very sectorized or official areas, or very alternative. We wanted to attract an audience that did not usually consume this type of cultural products, but not for lack of desire, but because they did not find their space. We try to make culture more accessible in some way. And to do so, our goal has always been to make people enjoy the actions we propose.. But always with rigor. Looking for content that contributes, that enriches. Culture is not at odds with fun.
"We wanted to attract an audience that did not usually consume this type of cultural products, but not for lack of desire, but rather because they did not find their space."
Investing in culture in the era of quantity, controversy and lack of support for the sector. How do you swim against the tide?
Culture is a difficult sector. Precarious and undervalued. It does not have the resources or the support that other countries like France have, which values its culture as a national symbol. We believed that after the confinement we suffered and the hardest times of the pandemic, the indisputable role that culture plays would become evident. We will see…
Despite everything, we love what we do. It is difficult for us to avoid the vocation that exists in everything we do. It makes us happy. And we would like to think that, on some occasions, we have provided the necessary tools to educate the gaze in the different cultural spheres that we touch.
Added to this swimming against the current is another obstacle, the one you mentioned before, a feeling of distance, disconnection. and sectorization of cultural events. It is clear that serving beers and being able to go with friends to a nice place already makes the event attractive. But in what other ways does Cooltural Plans change this perspective of cultural encounters?
Our initial philosophy was to take culture out of its usual context and bring it closer to people. Over time, we have identified what makes one enjoy a cultural event more or less. Of course, combining gastronomy with culture is something that helps and multiplies enjoyment. In Cooltural Plans the key is to bring the main character closer, showing him naturally and without platforms..
Our initial philosophy was to take culture out of its usual context and bring it closer to the people.
To put that fun part without ignoring the depth that people like Soledad Lorenzo, Edurne Portela or Borja Semper deserve. How is it do you combine both things in your encounters?
Us We (Patricia, Cristina, my partners and I) are our first audience. We seek to produce in our meetings, or in the actions that are commissioned to us (companies, institutions…), what we find interesting and in the way that we find attractive. Normally, even when we have first-class protagonists, we always laugh and feel relaxed during the conversation. In this way, I believe that what we hear produces a deeper and more lasting impact. In the end, what we offer is an open door that invites you to continue to delve deeper.
A lot of different people come to your events. Who is the person you most wanted to have at Cooltural Plans and sit with you? And who gets away from you?
To be honest, I couldn't tell you which one, because all the people we invite to participate in a Cooltural Plan, or who we contact for any other type of action, are people we admire. As for someone we might have missed... We would love for them to be the protagonists of one of our meetings: David Trueba, Elvira Lindo, Eduardo Mendoza or Ana Iris Simón... We will keep trying.
In an interview, Violeta, you said: “Culture gives me comfort. Vital comfort.” Without wanting to trivialize, we know that you are also a fan of Laconicum and we want to think that self-care also gives comfort or, at least, well-being. In what way is Laconicum part of your life and gives that comfort or that well-being?
I had never consumed so much cosmetics until I discovered Laconicum. For me it is much more than an e-commerce, I feel a deep alignment with the philosophy of Laconicum, and its commitment to sustainability. (not using plastics, recyclable packaging, deliveries by bicycle courier…). For me it is very important to feel that identification with the values of a company. But not only that.
I have complete confidence in the selection of products and brands they choose, and in the girls. Laconicum (Anabel and Maria, and the rest of the team) as prescribers. In this era in which most digital platforms have automated customer service with bots, Laconicum is swimming against the current with the cosmetic advice they provide. I also love the texts that accompany the products, they are great.
In this way, and answering your question, consuming Laconicum in a conscious way has become something aspirational. I enjoy self-care more, and investing in my well-being, than buying a bag or a pair of shoes. It's much more cost effective for me.
Any that pair well with a Cooltural book?
I love them BYREDO candles, the one of Library. And the Mint and Rose ones, like Siesta.
Find a quiet and cozy corner of your house, light a candle, make yourself a cup of tea or pour yourself a glass of wine, and abandon yourself to pleasure or pleasures, book in hand. Right now I'm reading Estaciones de regreso (Circulo de Tiza) by Jacobo Bergareche.
Tell us about your laconic selection, products that you like and enjoy.
It's a pretty wide selection. I have a cosmetic trinity: retinol at night, vitamin C in the morning and sunscreen.. I have become addicted to Lumilixir. I notice its effect so much that when I run out I get nervous if I have to be on the waiting list. Also at Benamôr hand creams, the one of Rose Amélie It is a pleasure. Gallinée I just bought, on the recommendation of Maria Martinez, the scalp serum, because with stress I suffer from peeling and itching, and it's doing me great. And there is not a day, whether I go out or not, that I don't perfume myself with Pure Fico of Office of Essenze, it's part of my hedonistic ritual.
Other products that I also consume, and that I recommend in the same way as when I really like a book, are: anti-pollution cream of Oil lamp, The Impossible Glow of Pai Skincare (if I had known this before, I would have saved myself a lot of sun damage) and the Volcanic Exfoliator from Bioeffect. And I won't continue, because it will seem like I have shares in Laconicum (I wish...hahaha).
