The Aiaraldea Cultural Factory kicks off today a new edition of its Creative Residency program. This initiative will allow four creators to work for a week on their artistic projects, immersed in the Basque language environment. The Aiaraldea Cooperative will offer them financial support (500 euros), accommodation and meals, artistic guidance, and assistance in communication and production. Additionally, they will have the opportunity to participate in the Arteman Fest on November 21st.
The four invited participants this year are: Itxaso Gardoki (from today until September 24th), Nerea Lizarralde (from September 24th to October 1st), Andrea Berbois (from October 5th to 10th), and Jon Garrido Gallardo (from November 5th to 12th).
Lizarralde, Berbois, and Garrido Gallardo will offer open sessions to showcase their creative processes. The first will take place on October 1st at 7:00 PM, the second on October 10th at 12:00 PM, and the last on November 11th at 7:00 PM.
The sole common characteristic among the artists is that they work in Basque. Actress and scenic creator Nerea Lizarralde will work on the Sumendi project, blending theater, music, and smoke. Former psychologist Itxaso Gardoki will focus on transformative research, contemporary literature, political essay, and autobiographical performance, exploring paths beyond institutional psychiatric discipline.
Musician Andrea Berbois will present an experimental live concert, using violin, keyboard, synthesizer, voice, Basque melodies, and electronics. Actor Jon Garrido Gallardo, on the other hand, will use depression and vulnerability as starting points, employing satire and humor as codes, and will propose a fantasy world through dance, movement, songs, poems, and theater.
In addition to the residencies, Aiaraldea also announced open call grants, through which artists Ane Zapirain Gorostegi and Oihane Marcos Gallego will receive support. Zapirain will research contemporary dance in the relationship between the ground and borders, while Marcos Gallego will create a radiography of Basque language, history, and identity through her Marratik At project.
