While we wish you a Merry Christmas 2022 from snowy Þingeyri, we want to take a moment to reflect on our recent collaboration with the Lithuanian Art Catcher project: Development of Creative Residencies Network in the Country of Lakes Region. It has been more than a year since a delegation of Lithuania representatives visited us in Þingeyri - and got the full Icelandic winter experience! During their visit, our Lithuanian friends from ART CATCHER visited creative residencies in the remote territories of Iceland. The purpose was to find similarities and connections with their activities when developing art residencies in the Country of Lakes Region in Lithuania. The 1st day of the visit was dedicated to presenting our activites in Simbahollin and the Westfjords residency. We shared our experiences on how it developed from the beginning, what challenges we‘ve faced, how are we today, and what‘s the plan for tomorrow. We all talked about the common vision for the future – make those small towns a cultural oasis where different people could find a shelter for inspiration, soul restart or exclusion from the modern world and contact with nature. We have a lot in common! Hope that those friendly converstations we had discussing on relevant topics will bring us nice future projects and further cooperation. The Lithuanian representatives went back to Lithuania to set up their own art residencies in remote locations.
For the final event of our collaboration with ART CATCHER, we travelled to Lithuania to take part in a conference presenting the final results of the project during autumn 2022. Six project partners presented their experiences and further visions for their residencies - including The Westfjords Residency. It was a great opportunity to see everybody again and feel part of a bigger community. Important issues were discussed: why art residencies are needed, what effect it has on the local communities ect.
It has been an amazing journey of connection, new friendships, shared visions and cultural exchange. Thanks to all the inspiring and helpful people that took part in making this collaboration such a great experience for our residency and our family!
The project is implemented together with the Euroregion "Country of Lakes" Office in Lithuania, Ignalina Region Museum, Visaginas Cultural Center, Local Lore Museum of Utena, Cultural Center Dusetos Art Gallery, Public Organization "Kuri veikia". Follow the projects here: #artcatcher #menugaudykle http://www.facebook.com/ezerukrastas.
The project is partly financed by the Icelandic, Norwegian and Lichtenstein funds.
