Spain is a country of art and passion. A country where artists have paid a loving tribute to the light and beauty of life for centuries. And a melting pot where all different frontlines of art have been either unconditionally adopted, grown or created for the world to share.

About seven years ago, a group of friends gathered on the Internet around an artists’ material that had been there for a little while, polymer clay. They began sharing their creations and ideas. They talked about the books they read, written by the International artists who inspired them and whom they admired so much. Then meetings followed, and the dream of creating a National Polymer Clay Association, little by little, took shape.

The ‘Asociación de Arcilla Polimérica de España’ (A.P.E.) was created in 2006, with only ten members. But word spread fast: only four years later, more than 200 polymer clay artists are members of our association, and many of them contribute their time, ideas, effort and generosity for the benefits of their fellows.

Today, A.P.E. is a lively meeting place for all people interested in polymer clay in Spain—and abroad: our guild proudly coordinated the 2010 edition of Donna Kato’s EuroClay Carnival, which took place in Madrid in October and attracted more than 100 attendees and teachers from the United States, Spain, France, Great Britain, Germany, Portugal, Romania, the Czech Republic and Russia, for four days of clay and great new experiences!

It wasn’t the first time that top international artists visited Spain. During the last four years, more and more International polymer clay artists have made our country their home and a place full of friends to return to again and again. And our artists are becoming every day more international, in part, thanks to the Internet, where they can show their work, but, also, because some of them are teaching workshops internationally.

Of course, the chance to learn and work with foreign artists is by no means the only benefit that A.P.E. offers its members. The vitality of the guild is present every day through many aspects and activities. A good example is that of the forums on different topics at the guild’s website , real panels full of opinions, insights and visions on up-to-date discussions, with new ones being added each week –or even within a day!

The guild’s gazette, released on a quarterly basis, benefits from contributions by many members, who send everything from articles to pictures, from tutorials to ideas on new activities.

The book that A.P.E. published to celebrate its third birthday, to which more than 30 member artists contributed.