June 20, 2024
This past May, Barcelona became a vibrant hub for linguistic and artistic exploration. From the 22nd to the 29th, the RISE UP project organised “Voices of Community”, an international Artist Residency for minoritised languages and was hosted ESPRONCEDA – Institute of Art & Culture, bringing together five artists from minoritised language communities across Europe.
The residency focused on a singular, powerful mission: to transform ancestral voices into contemporary artistic creations through sound, technology, and collective dialogue.
Art, tradition & creative exchange
The journey began at Centre Artesà Tradicionàrius, where artists were welcomed by artistic director Carol Duran to explore the roots of traditional Catalan culture. Throughout the week, the residency balanced heritage with modern creative strategies:
Identity Workshops: Led by Felicia Touvenot (YEN), focusing on the challenges of creating within minoritised languages.
Creative Mentorship: Collaborative sessions with Aranese singer-songwriter Alidé Sans.
The Leitmotiv: “Woodpeckers”
Working from the professional recording environment of Eurecat studios, the artists developed individual projects inspired by their native landscapes and folk stories. The common thread—or leitmotiv—binding these diverse voices together was birds. This culminated in the collective composition Woodpeckers, a sound piece that blends five languages with the textures of nature.
Digital frontiers: KIELI @ SONAR +D 2024
A central pillar of the Voices of Community project was the development of sound materials for Kieli, an interactive digital art piece co-created by digital artist Ferran Belda and curator Alejandro Martin.
Kieli reflects on the evolution of minoritised languages through transfrontier contac, additionally, the work was showcased at Sonar+D 2024, allowing visitors to interact with the sounds recorded during the residency and sparking vital conversations about language endangerment and digital identity. The artists also attended Primavera Pro, exploring the latest innovations in AI, music legislation, and the digital music industry.
PROJECT CREDITS
Kieli – Digital Art Piece
Ferran Belda: Digital artist
Alejandro Martin: Curator & co-author
Pere Calopa Piedra: Software engineer
Src.phag: Graphic Designer
Voices of Community – Artists
Fiona O’Cleirigh · Marina Cuito · Mario Csenar · Brett Hiiob · Daniela Stoica
Maika Casalí: Residency Coordinator & Music Producer
Partners & Collaborators:
Alidé Sans, Felicia Touvenot, Eurecat Recording Studios, RISE UP Consortium, European Union.
ABOUT RISE UP
RISE UP – Revitalising Languages and Safeguarding Cultural Diversity is a European Union-funded project under Horizon Europe. It supports endangered (minoritised) language communities across Europe by developing tools, research, and networks to promote language revitalisation. The project brings together eight partners from six countries and focuses on five case study communities: Aranese (Spain), Aromanian/Vlach (Balkans), Burgenland Croatian (Austria), Cornish (UK), and Seto (Estonia/Russia).
More at: riseupproject.eu
