The residency, part of Region Gävleborg's cultural activities Kultur Gävleborg, involves Marcella Steen and Simon Halvarsson in a joint artistic process open to the public. The work focuses on the artistic process—exploring, repeating, and developing ideas—rather than creating a finished piece. The artists will also meet children and young people in the area.
According to the artists, the residency gives them the opportunity to deepen their practice in the encounter with the place, where their experiences and ideas can grow together with the people. Matilda Björkbacka, development officer at Region Gävleborg, said that both artists have an exploratory working method where movement and music develop together, and that new expressions emerge in the meeting between their practices. Marcella Quinchavil Steen is a choreographer and dancer with Swedish-Chilean background, based in France, educated at Trinity Laban in London.
The residency in Viksjöfors in Ovanåker municipality gives us the opportunity to deepen our practice in the encounter with the place. There, our experiences and ideas can grow together with the people.
Simon Halvarsson is a percussionist and composer based in Montpellier, educated at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. The residency is a collaboration between Region Gävleborg, Ovanåkers municipality, and Viksjöforsbaletten.