The winner of the 2024 Amateo Award has been announced!
Amateo, the European Network for Active Participation in Cultural Activities, is delighted to announce this year winning project. The happy group that won the prestigious Amateo Award is…
“Poesía en Camino” (Poetry on the Road) by Producciones En La Arena from Spain!
This years winner has it all. Coming from the Canary Islands – POESIE EN CAMINO – combines poetry and video, aiming to redefine urban space through art.
Cornelia Groot, Amateo’s President and member of the jury for the Amateo Award 2024
They created an interactive map placing video poems in their inspired locations. In gentrified cities, where tourists often dominate content creation, this project emphasizes the importance of local voices. It highlights the emotional significance of the walls’ cracks and their meanings to inhabitants, truly reflecting the essence of those living in Arenales and reclaiming their narrative.
AMATEO welcomes this multifaceted winner from Gran Canaria bringing a flavor of both Spain and Africa to the Awards Ceremony in Prague.
“Poesía en Camino” by Production En La Arena and supported by the Centro de Cultura Audiovisual del Cabildo de Gran Canaria is a cultural initiative aiming to redefine urban spaces through art and poetry. The project involved urban walks, workshops, and creating video poems, allowing the community to rediscover and revalue their daily surroundings in Barrio de Arenales, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Canary Islands – Spain)
The aim of “Poesía en Camino” is to redefine urban spaces through participatory art and poetry, fostering a deep connection between the community and their environment. By involving residents in urban walks, workshops, and the creation of video poems, the project seeks to enable participants to rediscover and revalue their surroundings.
The desired impact of the project is multifaceted. Locally, it aims to enrich the cultural life of Las Palmas, particularly in the Arenales neighborhood, by encouraging creative expression and community engagement. The project places a strong emphasis on capturing the authentic experiences and emotional significance of the environment from the perspective of the inhabitants, rather than tourists or external voices. This approach is especially crucial in gentrified areas, where local narratives are often overshadowed by external influences.
By highlighting the personal stories and emotions tied to the physical spaces, “Poesía en Camino” seeks to reclaim and celebrate the local identity and heritage. The project also aims to develop participants’ skills in creative writing, visual storytelling, and video production through hands-on workshops. On a broader scale, it aspires to contribute to global urban artistic expression, promoting reflective and meaningful dialogue about the relationship between cities and their inhabitants. This initiative not only strengthens the sense of community but also positions art and poetry as powerful tools for social connection and cultural enrichment.
“Poesía en Camino” involved a diverse group of participants and collaborators. The project brought together a total of 16 participants, consisting of 15 women and 1 man, who accepted the challenge to explore and reimagine their urban environment. These participants were local residents who engaged in urban walks, workshops, and the creation of video poems.
Centro de Cultura Audiovisual del Cabildo de Gran Canaria provided essential support and resources, facilitating the technical aspects of video creation and the development of the interactive map. Workshop Instructors: experts in video editing and sound recording conducted practical workshops, equipping participants with the skills needed to produce high-quality video poems. Community Members: local residents of the Arenales neighborhood played a crucial role by engaging with the project, sharing their experiences, and contributing to the cultural dialogue. Currently, the museum of video poems remains accessible on the streets of Arenales, with each video on its way to surpassing 200 views. Overall, “Poesía en Camino” involved a collaborative effort between artists, local residents, cultural organizations, and technical experts, all working together to achieve the project’s goals.
“Poesía en Camino” positively impacted the lives of participants by providing a space for creative expression and fostering a deeper connection to their surroundings. Many found joy and inspiration in sharing their stories and emotions, and in seeing their everyday spaces through a different lens. Additionally, they acquired skills in writing, narration, and video production to continue exploring their artistic potential.
The project goes beyond traditional art initiatives; it actively reshapes how communities interact with their environments and each other. The creation of an interactive map showcasing video poems geolocated in their inspiring locations demonstrates our commitment to making art accessible and meaningful to all. “Poesía en Camino” serves as a model for participatory cultural projects that celebrate local identity, enrich community life, and inspire reflection on urban spaces globally.
“Poesía en Camino” collaborated with several partners throughout its participatory art project:
- The Centro de Cultura Audiovisual del Cabildo de Gran Canaria awarded us a grant, enabling us to successfully execute the project.
- Facilitators: Renowned artists Judith Alzola, Tarha Erena Sarmiento, Carmen Berasategui and Dora Cantero played pivotal roles in guiding participants through creative workshops and mentoring them in the art of writing and video production.
2024 Jury
The jury members who selected the five finalists were composed of president and members of Amateo board: Almuth Fricke (Centre of competence for Creative Ageing and Inclusive Arts (kubia), Germany), Barbara Eifler (Making Music, UK), Valentina Dačnik (HSK, Croatia), Conny Groot (Music Generations, Netherlands) and Giorgio Bacchiega (Consulta Periferie Milano, Italy).
The award ceremony will take place in-person at Vzlet Great Hall in Prague on November 13th, 8pm (CET) as a part of Amateo’s annual conference (HE)ART BEATS! 2024 – International networking conference on participation in art and culture. Join us in Prague!
Follow #AmateoAward on Facebook and Twitter for more updates!
You must be logged in to post a comment.