Southern Spain
A Dream in Southern Spain: Carmona and Seville
Your Journey
Creative Residency:
Summer 2023
$4,235
Uncover Andalucia with a relaxing stay in Carmona, one of Spain’s oldest towns, set in the countryside right outside Seville. Learn through experience and immersion with a context in this insight vacation. Daily art workshops in painting, drawing, and artisan design stimulate your imagination and hands-on skill-building. Ignite your creative passions and regenerate your spirit.
Spend two magical weeks in the relaxed city of Carmona, right outside of Seville. Here, you will experience the richness of Southern Spain: where sensual traditions are as ancient as the sun-kissed earth, and where olive oil and wine, an intrinsic part of life, are enjoyed throughout the day. Carmona, an ancient and quiet town, is right outside of Seville, the setting for most of the world’s well-known operas, including The Barber of Seville and Carmen.
AIP Carmona is set at a beautiful historic property right in the city center, so that we may participate and integrate into the community in meaningful ways. We have studio space, courtyards, and exhibition rooms, with ample time to explore this welcoming Andalusian city. Each day, you will wake up to a lovely breakfast at the hotel, and, depending on your course of study, have class or head to the studio. Our meals are shared dining experiences set at the hotel and in local restaurants. Multi-course dinners encourage you to relax and take time to enjoy the exquisite local cuisine.
There are day trips into Seville, known for its incredible architecture, along with Cordoba, famous for its mosque-cathedral and charming labyrinthian neighborhoods. The quiet and quaint setting means you can make and learn in peace—observing ancient structures and scenes while listening to courtyard waterfalls and the sounds of local life.
Highlights
– Residence at a lovely historic hotel in the center of Carmona, the quaint village right outside of Seville
– Insider tours of works of art and architecture including local museums, historic sites and artisan studios
– Excursion to Seville, the grand city of cultural and dramatic arts
– Guided tours of Carmona
– Studio and exhibition space in the city center; exhibition opportunities at City Hall
– Culinary experiences at local restaurants, famous for tapas and Andalusian wine
– Specially curated presentations and experiences by trip leaders and locals
Itinerary
Day 1
– Arrivals at leisure to hotel independently or meet in Seville for private transport to the hotel in Carmona.
– Welcome reception, aperitif and celebration dinner
– Included meals: Dinner
Day 2
– Wake up in the city center and enjoy a luxurious breakfast
– Explore the city of Carmona on a private walking tour
– Meet with your creative group to discuss goals and the immersion experience
– Included meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 3, 4 & 5
– Communal breakfast, lunch and dinner, exchanging ideas and excitement with other guests
– Workshops in art and culture with time to work or relax
– Meet for an aperitif followed by presentations by professors and AIP trip leaders about their work and creative topics
– Included meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 6
– Travel to Seville for a guided tour of local artist studios and an insider's perspective on the city
– Independently explore the city and share meals with new friends in town
– Included meals: Breakfast
Day 7
– Mid program review of your work in a community setting
– Explore your work while we host a mid term exhibition of your project at the studio and in the city at large, setting future goals to reach on the trip and reflecting in creative conversation
– Mid term celebration dinner
– Included meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 8 & 9
– Spend the day relaxing and reflecting in Carmona, shopping and time to reflect is a must. Work at your own pace on projects.
– Included meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 10
– Journey to Seville to explore art and culture
– Included meals: Breakfast
Day 11 & 12
– Workshops, art-making and living well; work towards your creative goals, preparing for the final exhibition
– Spend the day relaxing and reflecting and attending workshops.
– Included meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 13
– Explore the work of the group for the final exposition
– Farewell dinner
– Included meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 14
– Departures at leisure or take group transport back to Seville in the morning
– Included meals: Breakfast
Your Journey Includes
Our Team: the AIP team guides you through the entire experience.
Food and Drinks: all meals served at the hotel, including arrival and final celebration dinners, and meals at vetted local eateries; on travel days, you will dine independently.
Accommodations: residence at a spacious traditional property in Carmona's city center with access to the entire hotel.
Ground Transportation: Private airport transfers and Carmona transportation, and day trips to Seville and Cordoba.
Studio and Exhibition Space: Cultural Arts Center and City Hall work and exhibition spaces.
Creative Presentations: lectures, critiques, and workshops by AIP leaders and instructors.
Academic: Course credit for University students/educators *approved by your University
Peace of Mind: international health insurance is provided for all of our participants.
Your Art Practice
Study contemporary and traditional methods of drawing, painting and writing in Andalucia. Learn to paint, draw, and think critically. The focus of the trip is being in the moment and enjoying your time while learning and connecting to the world. Return home with a body of work and a broadened cultural perspective. We allow participants to make work in a variety of formats, exhibited in the city.
Make art each day, guided by intellectual and skill-building principles. You may take classes, or work independently on your own projects.
– Create writing samples
– Draw Carmona, Seville, and Cordoba from life or your imagination
– Paint your surrounding and experience
– Study architecture and history
– Make color samples
– Make print designs
– Exhibit your work to the public
Trip Details and Pricing
PRICE: $4,235
This experience includes almost everything you need.
*Rooms are all shared.
Private rooms are available for an extra fee based on availability.
Airfare is not included.
“I would sooner be a foreigner in Spain than in most countries. How easy it is to make friends in Spain!”
― George Orwell,
Homage to Catalonia
Suggested Reading:
CLASSIC
Don Quixote,
Miguel de Cervantes, 1605.
FICTION
For Whom The Bell Tolls,
Ernest Hemingway, 1940.
NON FICTION
Travelers' Tales: Spain,
Lucy McCauley, 1995.
