Environmental and artistic projects in the rural landscape: Riba Rocks & Riu d’art in Riba-roja d’Ebre

To invest the landscape with culture, artistic interventions and performances in the urban, rural and natural environment of Riba-roja d’Ebre

Originally published in Catalan at https://matrixcultura2050.substack.com

Grampus Placement May 2023. Organised by Riba Rocks Association with the support of the Ajuntament of Riba-roja d’Ebre.

Week 1

Upon arrival to the Riba Rocks finca, the 5 art students; Kyle Leeson, Jasmin Robertson, Josephine O’Connor, Mhairi Brown and Dana Leslie were welcomed with an orientation and introduction into off-grid living: solar energy, rain water harvesting, compost toilets and the surrounding nature.

The new Riu d’art maps are now available in the leaflet boxes throughout the village!

With thanks to the Ajuntament of Riba-roja d’Ebre for their continued support for the Riu d’art project and the local businesses who sponsored the creation of the map boxes!

You can enjoy a wonder through the beautiful streets of Riba-roja d’Ebre to view historic sites of interest, local attractions, stop of at one of the many bars or restaurants and on the way take in some awesome contemporary art in weird and wonderful locations!

We are delighted to announce we have received an Education and Training Award 2022!

The Riba Rocks association has been awarded ‘Best Sustainable Education & Training Development Provider – Northeastern Spain’.

With huge thanks to our trainers Roser Gay, Isabel Torres and Sarah Misselbrook Thank you to the Riba Rocks association members for their time and energy; Edgar, Claudia, Andrea, Rachel, Tomasz, Janine, Veera, John, Toni, Judith, Tamara, Sarah and Chris. Finally, thank you to the Ajuntament of Riba-roja d’Ebre for their continued support.

This year’s Riu d’art Street Fest saw the creation of two large scale site-specific murals. The first in Santo Domingo and the second in Carrer Triangle. We also added to this years event an exhibition of artwork in the Town Hall. Five artists from the Ribera region showed their work under the title ‘Confluence’. We also added a digital dimension to this years event. Four digital artworks in response to the theme ‘Water/River’ were projected onto the beautiful stone wall of the Castle in Plaça del Forn.

We get ready to welcome artists to Riba-roja d’Ebre to create new works for the Riu d’art Open Air Gallery. This edition will include large scale murals and projected video works, as well as an exhibition of local artists and a free art workshop!

**EXCITING NEWS**

Online zoom event – huge thanks to Lacuna Festivals – on Tuesday 26th July at 6pm UK time!

Join us for a presentation of the mural entitled ’Sempreviva’ (Everlasting) by Emma Jones, Diva Keith, Jodie Lilley and Eden Parkes.

Grampus Placement May 2022. Organised by Riba Rocks Association with the support of Maria Franquet, Culture Councillor of Riba-roja d’Ebre.

In the month of May 2022, Riba-roja d’Ebre saw the arrival of 4 graduates from Scotland and England; Emma Jones, Jodie May Lilley, Diva Keith and Eden Parkes. As part of the Riba Rocks PEATS Placement, the graduates stayed on the off-grid olive farm in The Valley, with a focus on sustainability, low water consumption and a zero waste ethos.

In November, we welcomed to the valley the wonderful Olivier and Maxime from Quebec, Canada. They stayed here for 2 weeks and during the first week the four of us picked olives by hand as a team for four days. We managed to harvest every single olive in the valley from all 240 olive trees!

The weather was good, warm enough during the day and not too windy to use the olive nets. Long hours, lots of food and mulled wine in the evenings.

An incredibly inspiring visit to Lišov, Slovakia! Eramus+ project EITA (Exchange of innovative teaching and learning methods in the craft and service sectors) Eramus+ project. We have returned to Riba-roja d’Ebre full of ideas and motivation to continue our work here to encourage artistic collaboration, international exchanges, creative residencies and much more!