Joya:AiR
Joya: arte + ecología / AiR is an off-grid and carbon-positive interdisciplinary residency (since 2006) rooted in the crossroads of art, ecology and sustainable living practice. It is located in the heart of the Parque Natural Sierra María - Los Vélez, in the north of the province of Almería, Andalucía. Joya: AiR offers abundant time and space for residents to make, think, explore and learn from their surroundings. Joya: AiR supports a range of disciplines including, but not limited to, visual art, writing, music, dance, curatorial and film. Founded and curated by Simon and Donna Beckmann in 2009, the Joya: arte + ecología / AiR programme is grounded in the foundation that dynamic and sustainable creative activity is the backbone to regenerating the land that has been slowly abandoned over the last fifty years. Since 2006, Joya: AiR has welcomed over 1500+ artists and creatives to realise their projects within one of the most unique and beautiful regions of the country. This is one of the sunniest regions of Europe receiving over 3000 hours of sunlight a year. Residents have access to individual studio space and 20 hectares of land. Accommodation (private room with attached bathroom) and meals are included, as is the collection and return to the nearest public transport system.
Selected artists are invited to contribute to the Joya: artists listing and are asked to contribute a small text outlining the nature of their practice whilst in residency. This will be posted to the Joya: website along with a link to the artist's website (examples are to be found here).
Selected artists are requested to make a presentation of their work to other artists in residence during their period at Joya: AiR. This is not obligatory but it does contribute to the overall experience of all artists in residence.
Joya’s working languages are English and Spanish.
Joya’s working languages are English and Spanish.Several studios and 20 hectares of land.
8 double/twin rooms each with an attached bathroom. The Field Centre is ‘off-grid’ and carbon neutral. Water is harvested from the 600m2 roof and stored in an underground deposit. Electricity is produced by a photovoltaic panel and a wind turbine. Hot water and heating are produced most of the year by solar power and biomass from our own land and is also used for all of the cooking.
Cortijada Los Gázquez is an isolated farm house situated within 18 hectares of arable fields, almond terraces and pine forest within the Sierra Maria los Velez National Park in the top right hand corner of Andalucia. The farm house has no connection to water or electricity (therefore carbon neutral):
Water is harvested from the 600m2 roof and stored in an underground deposit,
Electricity is produced by a photo voltaic panel and a wind turbine
Hot water is produced most of the year by solar power and substituted by burning almond and pine wood taken from their own land and is also used for all of the cooking.