Joya AiR
Vélez Blanco, Spain
This residency gave me the time, solitude, and creative freedom I needed to dive deeper into my practice without the interruptions from outside noise. We were isolated from the rest of the world. One of the benefits was we had our dinner meal cooked every evening; nourishment at the end of a long day was a big deal. It's important to remember you are in the middle of a national park, so you need to prepare in advance what type of work you will be creating or developing upon your stay, including all materials required. It was a small inversion for my career. I also believe it was necessary for me because I left recharged and with new work studies of developing ideas for future projects.
Detailed Ratings
More reviews of Joya AiR
For me, it was a quiet and mentally sharpening place. I was able to feel the life of plants by seeing kochia growing in a land without people or animals. And the people I met here were amazing. Because it's a beautiful place and Simon is organizer. I believe that good people attract good people. I would like to come back someday.
Joya is a wonderful retreat to spend time making art in beautiful remote surroundings. I made great friends there too. The accommodation, food and studios provided are really great quality too.
A tremendous place to go off-grid, in every sense of the word, and connect with one's creative priorities. Both without external interference, but also in the company of other creatives from many walks of life and different disciplines. Created by two working artists, the campus is very inspirational and affords all residents ample personal space but also wonderful communal spaces to navigate this dialogue between personal and public development. The site is about as isolated as it is possible to be in Iberia, but well worth the effort to reach.
Beautiful landscape, facilities, and human beings. A great balance between solitude and connection with others. It can be a little challenging & costly to get there if you’re not already based in Europe, but it was worth it. A focus on sustainability and fantastic meals were highlights!
Opportunity Intelligence
Researching your next residency?
Get residencies scored for your specific practice — not a generic list, a matched shortlist.
See how Intelligence works →Been to a residency?
Share your review →