Transformative Territories:
Inter-Species Refuge.
The Project.
Based on transformative artistic practices explored in the Transformative Territories project, we are collaboratively creating a space for inter-species refuge, regenerative and alternative agricultural practices, exploration of queer ecology and regenerative pastoralism to benefit local fauna, flora and community, and a safe space to promote holistic health and care for human and non-human species. The 'living lab' will see the intersection of science, art and social practice, for research and adaptation to local climate change impacts. The inter-species sanctuary will be open to the public as a space for experiential and alternative education and offered for use by communities of struggle - minority and historically oppressed groups, through programs such as OUT:HERE - Queer Šumava, beginning in Summer 2025.
Partners.
Parti Poetique - Zone Sensible (France)
Tavros (Greece)
Inland Campo Adentro (Spain)
Instituto Terra e Memória (Portugal)
COAL (France)
Centre des Politiques de la Terre (France)
Partnerships.
The first stage of Inter-Species Refuge is part of the Creative Europe project, collaborating with leading European players in the field of art, ecology and territories: Parti Poetique (France), Locus Athens (Greece), Campo Adentro (ESP), ITM (Portugal), under COAL (France) and in conjunction with institutional partners and associated scientists including the French laboratory LADYSS-CNRS.
Publications.
Database of local and migrating edible species and medicinal plants.
Interactive online platform with blueprint for local inter-species refuges.
Final book publication tracing and defining Transformative Artistic Practices, works of resident artists and studies by climate scientists.
Events and Dates.
January 2024:
Beginning of program
July 27th, 2024:
Open Studios, Presentation of Inter-Species Refuge Project, Lectures
Summer 2025:
OUT:HERE - Queer Šumava workshop, exploring inter-species relationality and possibilities of healing and coexistence.
Fall 2025:
Final Transformative Territories event and exhibition, publication of materials from project.
Opening Exhibition.
July 27th, 2024.
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Opening and introduction of Inter-Species Refuge Project as part of the annual Open Mill Day
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Presentation of artworks by Creative Assembly participants
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Open Studios and tours of the historic Red Mill
Artists.
Fuad Alymani
Natália Kalná
Kateryna Khramtsova
Václav Mach
Sean Roy Parker
Anjan Salzer
Adam Sochorec
Gilles Yann
Curator.
Gabriela Benish-Kalná
Botanical Research Team.
Inter-Species Refuge project begins with the planting of a food forest, located on the edge of one of the largest monocropping fields in the area, highlighting the necessity for species to find refuge on their journey across the depleted agricultural desert. The hill and its meadows will become a space to explore regenerative pastorialism and agroforestry practices, while new hedgerows will be brought back into the land to support biodiversity. Relearning ancient practices of land stewardship and water sequestration will form the center of ArtMill’s educational Site 1, open to the public and connected to our 'Houseboat' artist residency space, where different artistic projects will take place.
Headed by Natália Kalná, the Botanical Research Team is creating of a database of current local edible species and medicinal plants used traditionally in this region. In collaboration with scientists, a study of their adaptation patterns will be published on a publicly accessible online platform and in book form. An agroforestry study, design of the site, created with Františka Tullingerová, with drone mapping of plant health and topography, provided by Adam Sochorec of Slavic Media, will aid in the transformation of the Inter-Species Refuge, alongside exploration and research of agroecology, regenerative pastorialism, food forests, and regenerative projects to implement predictions of species climate adaptation and human need for refuge - creating a blueprint for land adaptation and transformative artistic practices.
Future gardens.
'Future Gardens at ArtMill' by Barbara Benish
" The Future Gardens for ArtMill in the Czech Republic, embrace the Harrison’s initiative of other gardens of the “Force Majeure attitude”, planned as artistic experiments in a warming climate, “a nationwide proposal for the co-generation of farming, healthy topsoil, and biodiversity”. The facilities and site of ArtMill provide an ideal landscape, both socially, educationally, and environmentally, to grow ideas about a resilient ecology of land, water, and co-habitation. Perhaps, in fact, we two-legged creatures will not remain, but we certainly propose to re-introduce the four-legged hoofed beasts to the local land, where they roamed for ions before the anthro-scopic destruction of forest habitat. "
