The Direcció General del Patrimoni Cultural and the Institut Ramon Llull are jointly organising the first ever international creative residency programme in Catalonia's heritage spaces. The programme aims to facilitate an exchange of ideas between local and international professionals and creators in the fields of humanities, sciences, and arts. The project’s first experience is scheduled from 16 to 21 October at the Museu d'Arqueologia de Catalunya (MAC) in Empúries, and will bring together the British poet Alice Oswald, Mallorcan singer, composer and performer Joana Gomila, the Catalan poet Maria Callís and the independent art curator Alexandra Laudo.

The MAC in Empúries is the only site in the Iberian Peninsula where Greek and Roman remains coexist. The collaboration with the Classics Festival offers a unique opportunity to increase the relevance of the classics for contemporary creation on a global platform and in an exceptional setting.

Joana Gomila, Maria Callís, and Alexandra Laudo will collaborate in a joint creative endeavour influenced by classical culture, with Alice Oswald's “Memorial” poems serving as a point of reference. “Memorial” transports us to the ambiance of the “Iliad,” with allegories that draw connections between the characters and nature. Jaume Coll's Catalan translation was awarded the 16th Jordi Domènech Prize for poetry translation.

During the first residency, the creators working on Oswald's poems will have the opportunity to directly interact with the writer, in a time of quality and shared knowledge. The meeting will enable them to refine and enhance the adaptation they are developing in their creative process. Additionally, it will provide an opportunity to reevaluate the relevance of the classics from varying perspectives and disciplines and encourage a dialogue on adaptations. It will also present the Archaeology Museum of Catalonia in Empúries through an artistic lens.

The outcome of this creative residency will be showcased on 23 November at La Capella as a part of Classics Festival in a performance titled Com les fulles (Like leaves)… Alexandra Laudo will present a performative re-reading of the poem "Memorial". Through a fragmented and episodic narrative, she will share reflections that stem from her reading of the poems. The author characterises it as a rendition of “Iliad” that depicts the Greek poem as an oral tomb. Laudo is intrigued by this idea and uses diverse theoretical and visual references to contemplate cultural approaches towards the dead.

Following this, a concert-recital featuring the music and vocals of singer Joana Gomila and the declamation of Maria Callís will explore the world of the “Iliad” and English poetry. Through the use of metaphors that present the human body as an intrinsic element of nature, the concert will immerse us in a world reminiscent of Homer and ancient warriors, voiced by women.

Alice Oswald is a British poet and one of the most prominent voices in contemporary English poetry. Her work "Dart" won the T. S. Elliot prize in 2002 and, with "Falling Awake", she won the Griffin Prize for poetry in 2017, among other awards and recognitions. In 2019 she obtained the chair of Professor of Poetry at Oxford, being the first woman to obtain it. “Memorial” won both the Warwick Prize for Writing and the Corneliu M. Popescu Prize for European Poetry.

Joana Gomila is a Mallorcan singer, songwriter and performer. She is considered a promoter of the new Balearic folk in which she combines the Balearic tradition of mowing and gleaning tunes with modern lyrics. She is part of the Hotel iocandi company, and in collaboration they created the circus and music show Esquerdes (Zirkólica award for best circus show in Catalonia 2015).

Maria Callís is an exceptional voice in contemporary Catalan poetry and a notable Catalan poet. With a degree in Catalan philology and a doctorate in linguistics, she has published three books of poetry: Jonàs (winner of the 2004 Amadeu Oller Award), La matinada clara (2009), and La ciudad cansada (winner of the 2016 Carles Riba Award). She is the coordinator of Verdaguer Edicions’ "Universe" collection and co-director of the Barcelona Poesia festival.

Alexandra Laudo is an independent art curator. In recent years, she has explored incorporating orality, performativity, and narration into curatorial practice through hybrid projects. These projects may include performative conferences, curatorial proposals that blend literary essay, criticism, and curating.

The Institut Ramon Llull’s residency programme aims to develop and promote a residency policy that links the creation and research of Catalan-speaking territories with global talent, thereby promoting cultural exchange and dialogue on a worldwide scale.