Cristina Nuñez’s first training for SPEX facilitators was held in 2012 in Milan. Since then she has trained 37 facilitators, and many others are interested in using SPEX with others. Some of the 37 are part of the SPEX team, have a look at the Facilitators section.

To access the training it is necessary to have experimented the SPEX method on oneself (in an online or live workshop), by carrying out the complete workshop, and finished an autobiographical project.

The training can be followed individually (online and in person) or in our group online workshops, mostly online with one intensive weekend (3 days) at the Penitentiary Center in Luxemburg.

Online group path 2023

The next SPEX facilitator online course will take place from April 15 to November 15, 2023 (one month summer break in August) in our online platform, with a total duration of six months of training. For this training, Cristina will collaborate with Maëlle (Momo) Gengler, SPEX facilitator, and Rosy Sinicropi, SPEX facilitator and photographer.

An in-person intensive weekend workshop at the Luxemburg Penitentiary Center will be included as part of the training. Each participant will have to carry out at least two workshops with groups of their choice: an introductory workshop and a complete workshop, both in groups. We suggest that one of these workshops should be carried out in the social field (prisons, mental health, adolescents, addiction, disabled, elderly).

The course consists in 58 hours of live and online meetings and collaborative work, and about 149 hours of homework, as follows: one intensive weekend workshop in prison (Milan), seven three-hour Zoom video-calls, one two-hour video-call, six video-calls in pairs or in small groups, four individual sessions with Cristina for each participant, and work on the online platform. In addition, during the writing of the thesis there are 3 more individual sessions on Zoom with Cristina. Successful completion of the training course will result in the SPEX Facilitator Certificate (photo below).

Dates and programme:

Zoom 1: April 15, 2023, 19-22 (Paris time zone). Participants present their projects and talk about their SPEX processes.

Zoom 2: May 4, 2023, 19-22 (Paris time zone). Discussion on the SPEX theory (Nuñez’s PhD thesis). Participants prepare their video presentations.

Zoom 3: May 18, 2023, 19-22 (Paris time zone). Discussion on the SPEX facilitator approach.

In-person training in Luxemburg: June 8, 9, 10 and 11, 2023. Intensive two-day workshop at the Penitentiary Center in Luxemburg (weekend June 10 and 11)and two days of individual sessions in Nuñez’s studio.

Participants plan and start their workshops and upload images and videos on the platform.

Zoom 4: June 22, 2023, 19-22 (Paris time zone). Discussion about participants’ workshops.

Zoom 5: July 20, 2023, 19-22 (Paris time zone). Discussion about participants’ workshops.

Zoom 6: September 7, 2023, 19-22 (Paris time zone). Discussion about participants’ workshops.

Zoom 7: September 28, 2023, 19-22 (Paris time zone). Discussion about the thesis to do.

From October 1, 2023 to March 30, 2024, participants work on their thesis.

The SPEX facilitator route costs 1450 euros, with a 10% discount for registrations before February 15, 2023. Payment by instalments will be possible. For pre-enrolment and payment of the deposit of 300 euros, please write an email to pr@self-portrait.eu.

Route in live group workshops


Four intensive weekends and work to be done in the online platform, a process in which you learn how to apply the SPEX method on other people. The weekends are held 1 month or 1 and a half apart.
Each participant will have to carry out at least two workshops with a group of their choice: an introductory workshop and a full workshop, both in groups. One of these workshops must be carried out in the social dimension (prison, mental health, adolescence in difficulty, drug addiction, disabled, elderly).

Programme:

  • First weekend: discussions on the theory, philosophy and practice of the method. The participants conduct individual self-portrait sessions among themselves, and start planning the workshops they will carry out in the coming months.
  • Work on the e-learning platform: participants start uploading the images produced during their workshops and describing the process, any problems they found and how they felt during the work. The group works on perception of the images, make comments on the process, under Cristina’s supervision.
  • Second weekend: internship in prison.
  • Work on the e-learning platform: participants continue to upload the images produced during their workshops and describing the process, any problems they found and how they felt during the work. The group works on perception of the images, make comments on the process, under Cristina’s supervision.
  • Third weekend: group work on the work produced by the facilitators during their workshops.
  • Fourth and last intensive weekend: group work on the work produced by the facilitators during their workshops. Discussion and index of the thesis.

After the last weekend, participants will continue their workshops if not finished, and work on the final thesis (6 months-1 year). After the discussion of the the thesis, Cristina will evaluate the work done and, if she thinks the facilitator is ready, she will deliver the SPEX facilitator certificate of qualification to the method, with the evaluation of methodological and artistic excellence. It is possible that further work may be necessary to obtain the certificate.
The cost of the training for facilitators is 1300 euros per person, including the follow-up in the thesis and the certificate.

Individual path

At least 10 individual sessions are required, at least 4 of them in Skype/Zoom, the facilitator sending the material to Cristina. In addition, you will need an internship of at least one live weekend during one of Cristina’s workshops in the social dimension.
The cost per hour is 140 euros per hour. There are discounts for the purchase of “packs” of 5-10-15 sessions.

For more information: pr@self-portrait.eu