From artistic residences in Alicante to a contemporary art festival
In Alicante, a new festival unfolds across several cultural centers, gathering fifteen professionals from the arts sector to explore nine ambitious actions. The Open Arts Festival marks its first edition as a meeting point where contemporary art ideas can be visible from different angles and spaces. The event weaves together multiple venues around the city, turning art into a collective experience that resonates with audiences across Canada, the United States, and beyond. It is organized by the curatorial teams of A Quemarropa and Piedra Papel Tijera ALC residences, with Juan Fuster, Miriam Martinez Guirao, and Chaplain taking the lead. [Attribution: Organizers of A Quemarropa and Piedra Papel Tijera ALC residences]
Across exhibitions, discussions, and hands-on workshops, the program addresses themes such as crypto art, sustainability, bio-art, and artificial intelligence. The proposals presented for this inaugural edition aim to illuminate how today’s creators are negotiating rapid technological and ecological changes while maintaining a human-centered approach. The project emphasizes a dialogue between art, science, and community, inviting visitors to consider new forms of expression and critique. [Attribution: Festival curators and participating artists]
“The world is changing, and the festival seeks to bring forward currents that contemporary creators are engaging with now, even when they appear blurred by the uncertain and often jarring moment in which art lives,” say the organizers. The sense of immediacy and openness underscores an effort to connect audience curiosity with critical reflection. [Attribution: Organizers]
This cycle begins tomorrow at noon with the Bio-Eco-Digital Art exhibition, presenting trends in White Box spaces with works by Almudena Romero, Fran Simó, Lot Amorós, Marina Planas, Miguel Moreno, and Vicente Aguado, who will also participate in additional sessions and demonstrations. [Attribution: Featured artists]
The second action of the day features a round-table discussion on Ecology, Digital Art, and Bio-Art, hosted at the Alicante City University venue. [Attribution: City University venue]
On October 1, Almudena Romero leads a workshop in Cigarreras Antitype exploring chlorophyll printing as a creative medium. On the following Thursday, at the same venue, Vicente Aguado from Valencia will present a talk about the intricate world of NFTs in Raw Crypto Art. On October 7, Cynthia Naked will conduct a ceramics workshop using biomaterials, a program crafted for little participants to enjoy outdoor playtime. The event schedule continues with a session on Saturday at Las Cigarreras. [Attribution: Festival instructors and speakers]
From Alicante’s artist residences to a citywide contemporary art festival, a strong thread runs through the program: art and sustainability. The roundtable at Casa Bardín on October 13 brings together voices from the field, including gallery owner Begoña M. Deltell, the Museums Consortium’s José Luis Pérez Pont, and Miriam Martínez Guirao. [Attribution: Roundtable participants]
The following day, Aleli Mirelman, project director of the Casa Planas de Mallorca Foundation, will discuss the carbon footprint of digital archives, a topic that resonates with audiences seeking responsible practices in media and storage. Finally, on October 14 and 15, Lot Amorós leads Extinction Fighting Laboratory at MUA, a hands-on workshop that invites experimentation with ecological themes. [Attribution: Program speakers and venues]
Participation in the festival is free, although several workshops require prior registration to ensure a rich, interactive experience for attendees. [Attribution: Festival guidelines]