What a pleasure it was to host 5 students from University of Southampton and Winchester School of Art this August. With financial support from the Turing Scheme UK, the students were hosted by the Riba Rocks Association for 32 days.

A month packed full of creative activities as well as volunteering for Grup de Natura Freixe at the Riba-roja d’Ebre lagoon to help improve biodiversity. The month culminated in the Riba-roja cultural fiestas, which were enjoyed as a closing week for the student group.

NEXE Rural: The first day of entrepreneurship and rural co-working in Riba-roja d’Ebre! Taking place on Friday, April 26th, NEXE Rural is an all day event with lunch and afterwork get together with the Riba Rocks Pop-Up Bar. Here at Riba Rocks, we are really excited to be collaborating with the Zona Líquida in Riba-roja d’Ebre for the first NEXE RURAL day. We will bring an afterwork celebration to end the day of networking and team building for the delegates registered, starting at around 6:30pm until 8pm. We will have the venue available to attendees to have a drink at the Pop-Up-Bar that will be staffed by members of the Riba Rocks association and with some background music.

The Riba Rocks Winter Party, on the 16th of December 2023, celebrated 10 Years since the first ever festival on the finca. We danced through a decade of memories with a wonderful group of party goers, thank you for joining us! We also raised 120 euros for the La Marató foundation as an entry fee to the event. Thank you for your collaboration!

We enjoyed headline beats by Ibiza’s own DJ Doctor Feelgood, and we grooved to the sensational sets by Els Mes Sonatts, Joint Chief, David by the Face, and Santiago del Blass.

Members of the Riba Rocks Association volunteered at the 18th edition of the infamous Clotxa Festival in Riba-roja d’Ebre this weekend.

The Clotxa is a traditional farmers’ breakfast comprising a large hollowed out loaf of bread, filled with grilled sardines, tomato, garlic and plenty of olive oil!

Members of the Riba Rocks Association supported artist Sarah Misselbrook with the presentation of a new live performance for Cultura Verda at Medol Contemporary Art Gallery in Tarragona. The Riba Rocks team of artists and designers were collaborators in the audience to begin the ruining of the series of drawings presented in the gallery space.

From October 16 to 22 2023, the Riba Rocks Association provided an alternative drawing workshop at the Zona Liquida here in Riba-roja d’Ebre. The workshop was one of the 50 cultural, educational and experiential activities that 20 spaces of the Cowocat Rural network scheduled: these included presentations, talks, workshops, debates, open days and networking.

Last weekend members of the Riba Rocks Association joined forces with grup de Natura Freixe for the second intervention at the Riba-roja d’Ebre lagoon!

We helped to continue the freeing up of space to encourage bird nesting which are linked to the wetlands, among other species of fauna and vegetation. Such a wonderful and refreshing experience to get into the lagoon and clear the plants, working as a group to improve the biodiviersity of the new lagoon.

Environmental and artistic projects in the rural landscape: Riba Rocks & Riu d’art in Riba-roja d’Ebre

To invest the landscape with culture, artistic interventions and performances in the urban, rural and natural environment of Riba-roja d’Ebre

Originally published in Catalan at https://matrixcultura2050.substack.com

Grampus Placement May 2023. Organised by Riba Rocks Association with the support of the Ajuntament of Riba-roja d’Ebre.

Week 1

Upon arrival to the Riba Rocks finca, the 5 art students; Kyle Leeson, Jasmin Robertson, Josephine O’Connor, Mhairi Brown and Dana Leslie were welcomed with an orientation and introduction into off-grid living: solar energy, rain water harvesting, compost toilets and the surrounding nature.

The new Riu d’art maps are now available in the leaflet boxes throughout the village!

With thanks to the Ajuntament of Riba-roja d’Ebre for their continued support for the Riu d’art project and the local businesses who sponsored the creation of the map boxes!

You can enjoy a wonder through the beautiful streets of Riba-roja d’Ebre to view historic sites of interest, local attractions, stop of at one of the many bars or restaurants and on the way take in some awesome contemporary art in weird and wonderful locations!