A residency program provides emerging artists with essential opportunities to refine their skills, push their creative limits, and build important connections. These programs offer a focused environment where artists can dedicate themselves entirely to their work, free from everyday distractions. In this supportive setting, they have the freedom to experiment, collaborate, and reflect on their practice. For emerging artists, residencies are vital for development, granting access to resources, mentorship, and exposure to diverse artistic approaches and ideas.
Hosting urban artists from other countries within a residency also brings immense value to the community. We believe it creates a cultural exchange that enriches the local arts scene by introducing new perspectives and methodologies. Urban artists, often focused on themes like social issues, identity and place, can offer fresh insights into local urban landscapes and challenges. Their work can inspire local artists and audiences, creating a cross-pollination of ideas that sparks innovation and dialogue. These are some reasons for which we have decided to apply for a grant in the frame of Call#3 under the European Festivals Fund for Emerging Artists (EFFEA), concerning EFFEA Discovery Residency.
Artipic Association wanted a chance to become more globally connected, cultivating international ties and promoting diversity within the arts. We knew about the importance of artistic collaboration, diversity, and growth in both local and global contexts. That is why we were more than thrilled to be a leading festival in the project.
Through Bridge Delivery, an urban art festival we are organising in the city of Iasi, we established a partnership with other festivals from Europe: Riu D’artRiba Rocks), Cres Fringe Festival, and Ecophilia Festival – PartSuspendedTogether, we collaborated with artists Yulia Abramova and Roksolana Dudka from Ukraine, providing them with hosting and a space to create. The festival took place between 20 and 22nd of September 2024 in Iasi, Romania, as a third and the last episode of a trilogy that aimed to revitalise a not so central area of the city, the "Octav Băncilă" Park and the parking lot next to the Tobacco Factory. We enjoyed mural works by Romanian and international artists, concerts on 2 stages, shows and performances, workshops, interactive activities, and the opening of the largest Urban Art Gallery in the Moldavia region. Thousands of people took part and enjoyed a completely revitalised area of their town through artistic involvement.
One week prior to the festival, the artists came and explored the city, talked to the members of our association, exchanged ideas, and gave interviews to groups of youth who were eager to meet them. After choosing a part of the bridge to be painted, the Ukrainian artists proceeded with the creation, closely watched by younger artists and journalists who wanted to know more about their vision.
Roksolana`s mural painting
In the end, Roksolana Dudka created Fairytale Storiesa visual language that combined deep-rooted traditions with a fantastical interpretation of reality. In this piece, she drew upon Ukrainian decorative art, patterns, and symbols to create a world where childhood tales came to life, revealing a profound philosophy through fairytale imagery. Ornaments and signs became her way of understanding the world, a means of negotiating with it, and a way to identify herself as both a woman and an artist. Through this composition, she showed how beauty could be found in the simplest forms, and how these forms carried deeper meanings, provoking reflection on personal growth and harmony in the world. The work was filled with vibrant colors, animals, and ornaments, creating a fairytale reality where joy and hope coexisted with challenges. This artistic language allowed her to address the war in Ukraine in an unconventional way—not focusing on destruction, but on renewal. It was about the restoration of cultural memory, harmony, and belief in the future. Each element of this mural reflected her observations of the world she lived in—a world of war that she saw and experienced every time she returned home. However, through these "Fairytale Stories," she aimed to remind the world of the beauty of their culture, landscapes, and the rich natural life they were fighting for. This "joyful picture" was, in truth, a reflection of their inner strength and love for freedom. It took them back to childhood, where fairy tales came to life, reminding them of what they were fighting for—freedom and the future.
Yulia`s mural painting
In a very deep and Ukraine inspired way, Iulia Abramova a înfrumusețat un perete cu Woven from pain (Țesut din durere), embellished a wall with Woven from pain, a mural about Ukrainian culture, folk art in the form of a carpet with a traditional pattern torn to pieces, destroyed by the war. And ahead there was a long road of war, deportations, migration, destruction and pain in the form of tire treads. Everyone can see their own in the print of the tread of a tank, car, armored personnel carrier.
Their artwork taught us to find beauty in simplicity, embrace cultural heritage, and focus on renewal over destruction. It encouraged reflection on personal growth, inner strength, and the importance of freedom. Us and the public had a chance to hear more from their perspective of artists coming from a torn apart country and the whole experience was very constructive. We were deeply grateful to have two talented artists from Ukraine join our residency program. Their presence enriched our creative community, offering fresh perspectives and invaluable cultural insights. We celebrated their resilience and artistic expression, and were honored to provide a platform for them to share their voices and stories.
We also believe that the residencies funded by the European Festivals Fund for Emerging Artists (EFFEA) hold great significance for the city of Iași as well. Not only it completed a huge Urban Art Gallery, but they stimulated cultural diversity and contributed to Iași’s reputation as a vibrant arts hub, fostering international collaboration and enriching the city's artistic and cultural landscape.
Moreover, on the 30th of September, after the festival ended and the artists returned home, we carried on with collaborating. We took part at an online workshop that brought together the two emerging mural artists and representatives from partner festivals in Greece and Croatia. During the Zoom meeting, the project results were presented, and the artists were connected with these organizations for potential future collaborations. The aim was to foster networking and explore opportunities for artistic partnerships moving forward.
In October, we were invited to the Ecopholia Festival in Athens, Greece, where we presented the Bridge Delivery project and its results. ECOPHILIA NOW Festival brought together over 20 diverse participants, including performers, musicians, choreographers, visual artists, activists, environmentalists, and poets from across Europe. The Ukrainian artists also shared their experiences from the residency, offering insights into their creative journey and the impact of the project on their work. This event provided a platform for further engagement and dialogue about the project's achievements.
All in all, we are glad we had such results in our residency project. International artistic collaborations open our minds and help us learn from each other, bringing new perspectives and innovation to our work. Continuing such projects is essential for maintaining connections between cultures and supporting ongoing artistic development, both personally and collectively.
Aftermoovies
Here is the Urban Art Map of Iasi
The Bridge Delivery residency is supported by the European Festivals Fund for Emerging Artists – EFFEA, an initiative of the European Festivals Association (EFA), co-funded by the European Union.
EFFEA is an initiative of the European Festivals Association, co-funded by the European Union, implemented in partnership with 14 EFFE Hubs: Croatian Composers Society (Croatia), Culture Matters (Czechia), PLMF Arts Management (Estonia), France Festivals (France), Festival Friends (Germany), Stichting Caucasus Foundation (Georgia), Summa Artium Kultúra Támogató Nonprofit Kft. (Hungary), Association of Irish Festival Events (Ireland), ItaliaFestival (Italy), ARC Research and Consultancy Ltd. (Malta), Asociația Centrul Cultural Clujean (Romania), ArtLink (Serbia), Sweden Festivals (Sweden), Development Centre „Democracy through Culture” (Ukraine).
