Mas els Igols - Artist Residency

Mas els Igols is an artist oasis created for independent artists that want to dedicate their time to produce art in a highly focused creative environment. The residency is situated in the vineyards of wine area 'Pènedes' some 60 km from Barcelona city centre.

We collaborate with a gallery downtown Barcelona where you can get the opportunity to exhibit your work in one of the group shows.

 

Artist hotel

Our residents live and work in a 250 year old wine estate in rooms refurbished and decorated with items from the personal art & objects collection of the owners and share a kitchen and large outdoor spaces with max. 9 other artists. All our rooms meet Spanish hotel standards.

The mansion is a strong artistic community-building refuge where you can produce work in full focus and enjoy the company of other artists from all over the world.

Mission: ¡Home for artists!

Our artistic family dedicates time and love to create a safe, homely and optimized creative environment for artists. Openness is holy; to all ideas, to all species of artists from all over the world, about who we are and the way we work, in our connections with the local community, the regional art scene and all people in our house! In social activities in the house and in exhibitions in Barcelona we establish and maintain our growing worldwide creative network.

 

 

A brief history

In 2007 visual artist Iris Tonies and writer/entrepreneur Arnout Krediet sailed their live-a-board ship around Europe to dock in Barcelona. They immediately started an artistic co-working and exhibition community for international artists downtown, Estudio Nómada.

In 2014 Iris and Arnout added a new project to the nomadic family for professional artists in their community. They restored a gigantic (1000 m2) wine farm situated in the paradisaical Cava area Penedes to become an artists residency for professional artists.

Live in an art Oasis

Mas els Igols is situated in the Pènedes, famous for producing the Spanish bubbling wine Cava. It is known as the oasis of Catalunya, green, lush and subject to the amazing Mediterranean climate (mild winters and warm summers) with the sea relatively close (20 km as the bird flies). Our valley is just behind the first hills running alongside the blue waters and white sandy beaches of the Costa Daurada. A fresh thermal wind cools down 'els Igols' on the warmer days.

The estate was formerly used as a winery and is surrounded by vineyards that are now taken care of by Pere Rafecas Jr. and Sr.

 

 

Things to do & places to visit

When you need a break from your art or wish to soak up some inspiration there are two small waterfalls coming out of a large forested area that flow on walking distance behind the house. All the ground water makes els Igols an isolated green oasis perfect for walking and cycling. The area is known for it's wine & cava production and as 'the food barn of Barcelona'.

Near the house you can visit wineries, a bird zoo, waterfall & picknick areas. A bit further you find Montserrat, nice beaches & Barcelona city with all it's culture and more. Ski slopes are only a 1 1/2 hour car ride away.

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