Welcome to the Metropolitan Culture Corner!
Next week, we interview creative artisan Silvia Marchissio. Silvia, also known as Toty, has been living in Barcelona for the past twenty years. Originally from Argentina, she has forged a path for herself on the local artists and crafts scene with her innovative designs for one-of-a-kind purses, wallets and much more—all made from recycled materials. She and her partner Sebas are the brains (and the hands!) behind the company Pikulina Producciones; you can catch them at local artisan markets year-round.
Last month, in our first interview of 2026, we spoke with journalist Nando Cruz. Cruz has been a music journalist since the late 1980s. He has contributed to everything from specialty music magazines to mainstream newspapers, and from regional television programs to local radio broadcasts. In recent years, he has become infamous for his passion for shining the light on musical realities marginalized by mainstream culture and media. He is also the author of half a dozen books, the most recent of which is titled Microfestivales, Y Otros Escenarios Posibles. His work explores how culture unites a community, and why there’s no substitute for homegrown art, and how it can function almost as medicine for society.
Stay tuned to Metropolitan’s YouTube channel and social media to make sure you don’t miss a single episode of our monthly interview series! You can also watch the full archive of interviews on our official YouTube channel, or listen to all the MCC interviews as free podcasts on Soundcloud. Be sure to follow Barcelona Metropolitan on Facebook: @BCNMetropolitan, Twitter: @bcnmetropolitan and Instagram: @barcelonametropolitan.