September 2025 Creative Residency
This September, Riba Rocks welcomed six creatives from the Winchester School of Art (University of Southampton) for a three-week Creative Residency in art, design, and Catalan culture. The group — including two fashion designers, three fine artists, and a fashion management student — explored new ideas and practices, the documentation of which will feature in the Riu d’art Street Fest 2025 Open Studios with Roser Gay.
Exploring Place and Culture
The residency combined cultural visits with hands-on creative practice, including:
- Riu d’art Open Air Gallery and guided village tours
- Santa Madrona Hermitage & Ice House
- Sebes Nature Reserve & Benifallet Caves
- Nearby landmarks: Corbera d’Ebre Poble Vell, Giant Bench, and Flix hydroelectric dam
Residents engaged with local materials and surroundings, developing projects that reflect both place and practice.
Workshops and Artistic Practice
Under the guidance of Sarah Misselbrook, students experimented with natural and found materials from The Valley olive finca, creating sculptural bundles and object compositions. Observational drawings incorporated innovative techniques such as non-dominant hand sketching, sensory drawing, and collaborative exercises.
Students also explored cyanotype printing with Roser Gay, transforming natural objects and photographic negatives into unique artworks, including bespoke tote bags — blending sustainable approaches with experimental photography.
Collaboration and Reflection
Throughout the residency, participants engaged in tutorials, group critiques, and artist talks at Zona Líquida. Their experiences culminated in a WSA @ Riba Rocks group manifesto, reflecting on creativity, collaboration, and artistic development in a new cultural context.
Looking Ahead: Riu d’art Street Fest 2025
Documentation of projects developed during the residency will be featured at the Riu d’art Street Fest, highlighting the fusion of fashion, fine art, and local inspiration. This festival celebrates the creativity, experimentation, and cultural exchange fostered by residencies at Riba Rocks and the village of Riba-roja d’Ebre.
✅ September 2025 WSA Residency leaves a lasting legacy of creativity and collaboration, strengthening the connection between artists, the village, and the Riu d’art project.
