Help Maruja Mallo: Family Video-Game Workshop at Museo del Automóvil y la Moda, Málaga

On a bright morning in Málaga, the Museo del Automóvil y la Moda trades rubber and silk for the brushstrokes of one of Spain's most inventive painters. Taller de Fomento de la Lectura con Videojuegos turns the museum into a low-stakes treasure hunt where children become detectives of art and biography. The assignment: help Maruja Mallo reclaim five lost souls scattered across her past and her paintings.

This family-friendly workshop runs about one hour and uses a seven-screen serious game to teach players aged roughly 8 to 12 how to read visual clues, solve puzzles, and connect artistic life to wider cultural currents. Players meet historical figures drawn into Mallo's orbit—Federico García Lorca, José Ortega y Gasset, Ramón Gómez de la Serna—figures who shaped Spain's twentieth-century intellectual scene and who appear as characters to question or assist. Over successive levels you search for objects, answer contextual questions, and unlock narrative fragments that sketch Mallo's life.

Because the activity is free until capacity is reached, it's a practical option for families exploring Málaga's cultural quarter. Meeting point is the Museo del Automóvil y la Moda, a distinctive venue that pairs automotive and fashion collections; the contrast between vintage cars and an interactive portrait game creates an unexpectedly lively setting for art education. Note: the game itself does not include a guided visit of the museum's permanent collection.

What makes this workshop stand out is its blend of play and primary-source learning. It teaches close observation—the same skill you use when reading a painting—while rewarding curiosity with small narrative reveals. Facilitators guide groups through seven screens, timing the experience to keep attention high and to encourage teamwork among siblings or classmates. The design keeps difficulty age-appropriate without condescending to younger players, and adults can participate as partners.

Practical details: duration is roughly one hour; plan to arrive a little early to secure a spot; the museum handles capacity on a first-come basis. Bring comfortable shoes, a lightweight jacket for Málaga's coastal breeze, and a curious attitude. This workshop is an accessible way to introduce children to Maruja Mallo and to Spanish literary and philosophical figures through gameplay, turning a museum visit into a short, sharp lesson in history, art, and collaborative problem solving.

Families visiting Málaga's historic center can weave this hour-long game into a broader cultural day: pair it with a stroll along the port, a stop for horchata or coffee, or a visit to nearby galleries. Staff are usually welcoming to first-timers and will explain mechanics before you begin. Because the activity is designed as education-through-play, it rewards questions and conversation—pack a notebook for curious kids and leave time afterward to talk about the discoveries you made in Mallo's world.