Growing through movement and making

MINCA offers a fresh take on learning and self development.

  • Less sitting. More embodiment.

  • Less instruction. More experimentation.

  • Less focus on outcomes. More joy in the process.

  • Less individualism. More collaboration.

MINCA (noun) comes from the Quechua word minka and the Amazonian concept of minga. Both are living traditions of reciprocity, cooperation, and mutual care.

The name reminds us that the most meaningful creations are co-created and benefit everyone.

Julia Stewart, Founder

Hi! I’m Julia.

As an artist and a mover, my role is to open people’s minds and hearts. I do this through a collaborative and participatory process that starts from the body first and then flows into creation / co-creation and reflection.

I’m fascinated by exploring how we can develop more comfort with the unknown, release perfectionism, and deepen trust in ourselves and each other.

Growing MINCA from it’s foundational values has been a journey of love and dedication. Over time, I honed my approach into the 4M Methodology: Mindfulness, Movement, Making, and Meaning. These elements serve as the foundation for my approach.

I've worked in group facilitation, curriculum design, and education since 2012.

Movement has been my lifelong love. I'm a certified Sivananda Yoga instructor, a former three-sport varsity athlete, and I’ve been a student of everything from gymnastics and dance to strength training, swimming, tennis, skiing, Thai Massage, and now Tai Chi.

I hold an MBA from ESADE Business School in Barcelona and a B.A. in International Relations from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon. My additional training includes Experience Design (Kaospilot and the Scaling Intimacy School of Experience Design) and Performance Art through Performance Art Studies (PAS).

My personal mindfulness practice has been shaped by the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh and the meditation tradition of Paramahansa Yogananda.

View Creative Projects

What’s it like working with Julia?

  • "Julia, the lead of the space, is a visionary person, full of energy and passion, and welcomes every person with respect and care. I trust her a lot, and I believe in everything she puts her energy into."

  • "Julia is such a lovely person who beautifully transmits her passion and emotion and she really transported us into her world."

  • "Julia creates this truly unique atmosphere where everyone feels happy to explore their creative side."

  • "Julia created a safe and unique space for creativity, connection, and self-expression where our cohort was able to grow, play, and create, free of judgement. Julia guided us with such care, making the experience feel both thoughtful and unexpected."

  • "Julia is a truly beautiful facilitator of community, creativity, and connection. I simply cannot recommend it enough. If societies had more access to spaces like this, the world would be a better place."

  • "Julia energizes the activity through dedication, passion and listening. We laughed, we opened up, we felt lucky, we painted and above all, we were free. Congratulations on the work you do!"

  • "Julia is lovely and always greets you with the biggest smile. The place is pleasant, intimate, and encourages creativity and imagination without limits, even for those who aren't artists (like me)! I'll be back!!

  • "Julia is a wonderful soul who welcomes you into her space with openness and joy. I cannot recommend this place enough."

  • "Julia greeted our family with a warm welcome and ready smile. She is passionate about what she does and it was reflected in the session she created for us! She easily and skillfully used her knowledge and the creative process to guide us through our experience."

  • "Julia is the best and super fun to work with! Definitely stop by for an event or workshop if you are in the area looking for something unique and creative to do."

  • "Julia, who runs this place, is an energetic person with thousands of fantastic ideas. It's impossible not to become friends with her."

  • "The host, Julia, was so kind and friendly. Also, the atmosphere here was creative and warm ☺️ It was an unforgettable memory for me."

  • "We had the most incredible teambuilding dinner here! Absolutely incredible set up, and the host, Julia, was just so good!"

  • "Julia is a wonderful person. She creates a creative, safe space full of magic and love. It is not a soulless space like those that are now fashionable "art & wine", it is something more, MINCA is the union of love, creativity, magic and comfort. Thank you for opening your home to us ❤️"

  • "Julia's art studio concept allows you to truly live in the present moment, utilizing your own creativity without rules. This allows you to relax and discover your own artistic ideas and the materials you love in a pleasant environment, full of good vibes and kindness."

  • "Julia guided us with great sensitivity and passion, creating an atmosphere of trust and absolute freedom. It is a space where you can let your creativity go, where everything flows and magical results come out. It is a unique, loving and deeply creative experience. Julia opens her space and makes you feel at home. Totally recommended!"

  • "Beautiful place! Lots of activities to enjoy, and Julia is a wonderful host. I highly recommend you come and experience MINCA!"

Our Story

Julia Stewart founded MINCA (formerly Arte a la Carta) as a pop-up in December 2023. It has since evolved into a well-respected brand for movement + creativity.

MINCA currently offers online courses for its global audience and in-person workshops for those in Barcelona.

Soon, we’ll add in-person retreats to the mix.

  • Dec 2023: Began offering creative pop-ups under the name “Arte a la Carta”

  • April 2024: Signed lease on current studio in Grácia

  • May-Dec 2024: Conceptualized + hosted 4 large-scale collaborative art projects in collab with 3 local artists

  • Spring (March-May) 2025: Co-designed / facilitated two immersive experiences exploring silence + chaos, respectively. Re-branded to MINCA.

  • June-August 2025: Burned out. Went on retreat.

  • Fall 2025: Built the curriculum for MINCA’s most ambitious offering to date: an 8-week journey, ending in a co-created public exhibition.

  • January-March 2026: Facilitated the 8-week Experimental Making Lab to inaugural class of 7 students.

  • April 2026: MINCA’s instagram (@letsminca) goes viral, growing from 3k to 46K followers in 9 weeks.

  • May-August 2026: Development of digital offerings that effectively translate MINCA’s ethos and methodology into online formats.

  • September 2026: Launch of 1st digital course: “Tai Chi Daily Warmups” — an 8-week course rooted in Qigong and Tai Chi.

The MINCA 4M Methodology

Each “M" offers a doorway to unlock personal insights and expand.

  1. Mindfulness:

    Bringing awareness to the here and now.

  2. Movement:

    Connecting body and mind.

  3. Making:

    Learning becomes tangible and visible.

  4. Meaning:

    Reflecting and sharing to integrate learnings.

MINCA’s Core Values

The principles that guide our decisions, actions, and behavior.

Belonging: We focus on meaningful connections and intimate experiences over quantity and superficiality.

Imagination: We look for opportunities to stimulate and expand people’s minds to reconsider what is possible. We embrace new ideas and love sentences that start with: “What if we...”

Exploration: We emphasize process over outcomes and encourage playful curiosity as a necessary means of growth.

Activation: We create opportunities for people to engage and participate rather than passively observe.

Joy: If it’s not fun, we need another very good reason to do it.

Integrity: We are honest, accountable, reliable, transparent, and ethical. We do what we say we are going to do, apologize when we make mistakes, and we find ways to make it right.