STARA - 16.04.2015, Blaðsíða 55

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Reitir’s methodology is rooted in a cross-
disciplinary collaboration between enthusiastic
professionals, where their different skills and
knowledge lay the foundation for a critical and
challenging project. As an example, a mathemati-
cian, a graphic designer, and an illustrator collabo-
rated together on a sound sculpture.
The complete work flow happens at Siglufjörður,
including the conception of ideas and their pro-
duction. Participants arrive with no preconceived
ideas and are ready for a selfless collaboration and
inspiring atmosphere. The duration of the project
is 12 days, split into two sections. The first section
is dedicated to exploration and concept sessions,
while the second section is for conception and
production that ends with an opening. The work-
flow is very open, as the second section is com-
pletely in the participant’s hands.
The ideal participant is productive, keen on col-
laborations and risk taking, creative, and passion-
ate about their practice. The town of Siglufjörður
is the collaboration’s topic, though the participants
are free to create their own angle. Past projects
have included a smartphone app, publications,
pop-up cafés, typefaces, video works, and public
space sculptures to name a few. Reitir is a plat-
form for socially aware, creative workflow on an
international basis. Direct collaboration with local
residents is vital for the project’s development, and
visibility is significant to the production. Reitir
challenges the locals to an annual football match
as well as sending participants in small groups to
local families for dinner. We seek out new ways to
engage with local residents every year. The pro-
ject is the core of a growing international network
that often generates continued collaborations and
projects elsewhere, and some participants have
taken part more than once. Reitir’s aim is to be an
impactful part of Siglufjörður’s cultural landscape
by building a solid platform that generates new
ideas through cross-disciplinary collaborations.
Reitir is hosted by Alþýðuhúsið Culture House
in Siglufjörður and has in addition been funded
by Eyþing Culture Fund, EUF, Iceland Art Fund,
Council of Fjallabyggð and local businesses.