MADRID.- The creativity of Madrid students is on full display at the Botín Foundation's headquarters, where the exhibition "We Are Creative XIX. Toys for Non-Humans" opened today. The show features innovative projects by 1,662 students from 14 schools, developed as part of the foundation's "Responsible Education" program.

The exhibition is the culmination of the ReflejArte educational resource, which uses art to foster students' emotional, creative, and social development. This year's theme was inspired by the recent Shimabuku exhibition, "octopus, citrus, human," which encouraged viewers to approach the world with curiosity and wonder.

Students were challenged to look at their surroundings from new perspectives and empathize with other living beings. Their response? Designing and building toys specifically for non-human animals.

The creative process involved three phases:

• Initial research at home with families to observe how non-human animals play.

• Exploring the Shimabuku exhibition through interactive activities.

• Collaboratively designing and manufacturing a toy for a specific non-human animal they had researched, combining imagination, empathy, and critical thinking.

Each participating school also created a short video documenting their process and learning journey. The resulting toys and videos form the core of the exhibition, guided by teachers who received special training for the project. The works collectively explore the question: "How do the natural species around us have fun?"

According to the foundation, the exhibition demonstrates how young people, guided by art, can find new solutions to everyday challenges through empathy, experimentation, and imagination.

The "We Are Creative XIX. Toys for Non-Humans" exhibition is open to the public free of charge (by appointment) in the annex room of the Botín Foundation's Madrid headquarters (C/ Castelló, 18C) from May 13 to May 30, 2025. Visiting hours are 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Monday through Thursday, and 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Fridays. Schools and groups can request visits by contacting educacionresponsable@fundacionbotin.org.

The Responsible Education program, which includes ReflejArte, is implemented in over 800 educational centers across Spain and several Latin American countries, collaborating with regional education authorities to promote student well-being and development through creative engagement with art.