RAÍCES

RAÍCES is a contemporary art residency for experimentation and research. It takes place in the valley of Aconquija (“Snow that forms in the height next to the moon”), land of ancestral cultures of the Argentinean northwest. This space seeks to decentralise the circles through which the art and cultural programmes of our region are managed. In this way, bringing artistic practices closer to natural (rural) contexts, relating artists and bonding them with the landscape, the community and intimate exploration. Producing a profound rupture in the daily life of their practices, in the perception of silence and, above all, of themselves.

We are located at 1700 metres above sea level, in a valley of approximately 40 kilometres in length. Its natural environment offers a deep sensitive experience, due to the diversity of biomes: yungas area (Cuesta del Clavillo) and desert area, populated by cactus, tuscas and carob trees (Cuesta de la Chilca). It has a privileged view of the snow-capped peaks of the Aconquija mountain range, peaks that exceed 5600 metres above sea level. The Pukará is the most representative archaeological site (part of the Inca trail “Qhapaq Ñam”), declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is the ancestral land of the “Alamito”, “Condor Huasi”, “Cienaga” and Diaguita Nation cultures.

The Policarpo cultural centre has been working since 2015 in various cultural activities with the community and in the company of artists, artisans and teachers of the NOA region. Organising and lending the space to carry out agro-ecological fairs, meetings of artists and community meetings. The community practice of audiovisual experimentation is one of its main activities.

Since 2017 it has been organising the artist residency programme “Raíces”, which celebrates its sixth edition in 2021. It was declared of public and cultural interest in the region (2018) and obtained institutional recognition from the CRNC, (an organisation that brings together the cultural secretariats of northwestern Argentina-2019). In turn, it received the Training grant in the category of Art and Social Transformation awarded by the National Fund for the Arts (2019).

Aconquija, Catamarca