Invited by the QRER Cooperative, we curated a Creative Residency from September 26 to October 7, 2022, in the small village of Sarnadas, Algarve, in a newly established esparto workshop. Building on a course started in 2021, the residency aimed to nurture a growing community of artisans devoted to reviving and reimagining this traditional craft.
Through moments of shared learning, experimentation, and creative dialogue, artisans and designers came together to explore the expressive and practical possibilities of esparto. Visits, hands-on sessions, and collaborative prototyping led to unique pieces rooted in tradition but shaped by personal vision.
The experience revealed not only innovative techniques and refined results, but also the power of community, care, and continuity. The final works – presented publicly in early 2023 – reflect the potential of craft as a living, evolving practice with space for both memory and imagination.
