Riu d’art

RIU D’ART: Fostering Artistic Legacy in Riba-roja d’Ebre

The Riu d’art residency, a venture initiated in 2016, is dedicated to creating subtle yet impactful artistic interventions within the enchanting village of Riba-roja d’Ebre. Over the years, it has breathed life into the streets, both temporarily and permanently, transforming Riba-roja d’Ebre into an open-air gallery where residents and visitors can revel in the magic of art.

Duration: The Riu d’art residency offers a transformative 3-week experience. During this time, participants will embark on a journey of creativity and cultural immersion.

Inclusions: The residency encompasses a holistic experience, providing food from Monday to Friday, accommodation (private room, shared lounge and kitchen facilities), internal transport, and enlightening cultural visits. You’ll have everything you need to focus on your artistic endeavours.

Cost: The cost of this transformative experience is 245 euros per week, made as a donation to the Riba Rocks not-for-profit association. However, please note that there are opportunities for fully funded stipends, depending on our funding situation. We encourage you to follow us on our social media channels to be notified when these opportunities become available.

Artistic Legacy: At the core of the Riu d’art Residency is the creation of a lasting legacy artwork. These artworks become integral parts of the Riu d’art Open Air Gallery in Riba-roja d’Ebre, joining a collection of over 30 existing pieces of art.

Our mission.

To employ contemporary art to rejuvenate spaces, foster meaningful dialogues, and support the transition to sustainable tourism.

Application Process: We welcome applications from local, national, and international creative practitioners. Our focus lies in promoting social and cultural integration, encouraging artistic collaboration, and facilitating professional networking. Please send us a single page CV, plus a link to view samples of your recent work and a maximum 350 word proposal for your project here in Riba-roja d’Ebre. Please email us with this information at info@riba-rocks.com. You are required to have your own travel insurance for your stay here.

Organisers: The Riba Rocks Association organizes the Riu d’art residency with the valuable support of the Ajuntament (Town Hall) of Riba-roja d’Ebre.

Artistic Exploration: The residency invites artists to submit their ideas for adding to the open air gallery, with visits to local sites of interest providing inspiration. These ideas are chosen based on their connection to the social, cultural, political, and natural environment of the area, as well as the intuitive use of materials.

Legacy in the Village: Various locations throughout the village are selected by our judging panel to accommodate each work of art. Past creations have included large-scale painted murals, multimedia installations, illustrations in the old part of the village, ceramic works, a significant steel sculpture, and captivating performance art along the river. A guided tour of the artworks at the completion of the residency is organised and locals and tourists attend to hear you present your artwork.

Global Creativity: Riu d’art has welcomed artists from around the world, including Russia, Lithuania, Chile, Cyprus, the UK, Finland, Catalunya, Singapore, Austria, and the United States. To learn more about our past artists or to submit your application for future editions, please visit the Riu d’art website.

Residency overview
Duration3 weeks
AccommodationPrivate room
LocationOff-grid olive farm in Riba-roja d’Ebre
FacilitiesStudio space – shared kitchen – all meals provided – mentorship
StipendFully funded places (please email for availability)
Price245€ per week donation

Please fill in the info below

* indicates required field

Acceptable file types: doc,docx,pdf,txt,gif,jpg,jpeg,png.
Maximum file size: 3mb.

“Really loved this residency, so exciting to look pictures of what has happened in this village this year, amazing images and spaces created, this residency feels positive, embracing, unifying and energetic! A great experience as an artist, to take part in this last year, I feel like I have participated in something that is really growing!”

Carys Wilson

“I had a great time making an art residency with Riba Rocks. The Festival Riu d’art is a great project where you get involved with the village and its people. Thank you so much for the beautiful moments!”

Elara Elvira

As an artist in residence at Riu d’Art 2019 I had the chance to widen the boundaries of my practice. Normally, my work is two dimensional, but in the context of this project, I felt confident enough to experiment and try new things like installation and sculpture. That was possible because I had the materials and technical support I needed, even when my proposal was modified in the process. In addition, I had the opportunity to work directly with locals, which was an enjoyable learning experience for me.

The possibility to get to know artist from all around the world is also fascinating. The accommodation and food were all provided so, artists just need to worry about their job and enjoy the experience and the beautiful surroundings. I’m totally grateful for what I experienced and I definitely recommend it!

Romina Cristi Olate