What happens when you truly listen to a place?

As part of the Island Connect 2 Islander Focus Exchange Programme, artist Amano de Landra Miura spent two weeks in residence at BIRCA, Bornholm, exploring the connection between people, place and the natural world.

Originally arriving to research extinction and island identity, Amano’s project evolved into something much more intimate. A practice of slowing down, observing and deeply listening. Returning to five special locations across the island each day, they wrote through the lens of the five senses, allowing the changing weather, landscapes, people and everyday moments to shape each piece.

The result? 🌿 A growing ecosystem of songs inspired by Bornholm’s flora, fauna and the living relationship we share with the environments around us.

Their final interactive performance invited audiences to experience that journey together, celebrating curiosity, connection and the stories that landscapes leave with us long after we return home.

Thank you, Amano, for sharing your creativity, generosity and beautiful perspective with the BIRCA community.

Art has the power to heal, connect and inspire.

During Alexandra’s residency at BIRCA as part of the Island Connect – Islander Focus Programme (August 2026), multidisciplinary artist Alexandra Deglize (@alexandradeglize) arrived on Bornholm with no fixed planch, choosing instead to experience the island with fresh eyes.

Guided by the island’s landscapes, stories and energy, her project evolved into a powerful participatory performance exploring the health of our oceans. Centred around the Baltic Sea’s polluted “dead zones,” Alexandra created a wake and healing ceremony for Mother Water, inviting the community to become part of the ritual and collective act of hope.

Together, participants gathered healing water, called upon the island’s guardians, and carried a shared intention: to return life, care and respect to our waters.

🌊 A beautiful reminder that art can be more than something we witness, it can be something we experience, share and carry forward.

Creative Exchange and New Ideas: Chiara Capizzi at BIRCA

Artist Chiara Capizzi shares an insight into her creative practice and her experience as part of the Island Connect residency programme at BIRCA, Bornholm.

What happens when an artist is given the time, space and opportunity to connect with new people and new perspectives?

For artist Chiara Capizzi, the Island Connect residency at BIRCA on the island of Bornholm provided an opportunity to explore her creative practice while becoming part of an international artistic community.

A new film captures Chiara reflecting on her practice and residency experience, combining interview footage with glimpses into her artistic work and creative process.

Exploring a Creative Practice

Every artist has their own way of developing ideas.

For Chiara, the creative process is explored through her artistic practice, experimentation and expression. The film provides a window into this process, offering glimpses of her work alongside her reflections on the experience of developing creatively within a residency environment.

Rather than focusing only on the finished result, the film highlights the importance of the journey — exploring ideas, experimenting with possibilities and allowing a creative practice to evolve.

The Value of Creative Exchange

One of the defining aspects of an international residency is the opportunity to meet and work alongside other artists.

Being surrounded by different practices, perspectives and experiences can create new ways of thinking. A conversation can spark an idea, another artist’s approach can challenge an existing way of working, and shared experiences can lead to unexpected creative possibilities.

For Chiara, the Island Connect residency offered this opportunity for exchange.

The experience was not simply about developing work independently, but about being part of a wider creative environment where ideas could be shared and explored.

Finding Inspiration at BIRCA

Chiara’s residency took place at BIRCA, a residency space for artists on the island of Bornholm in the middle of the Baltic Sea.

Surrounded by some of Europe’s most fantastic nature, BIRCA provides artists with an environment where they can step away from their usual surroundings and dedicate time to their creative practice.

The setting offers space for reflection, experimentation and connection — creating the conditions for artists to explore ideas without the pressures of everyday life.

A change of environment can also change the way we see our work. New surroundings, new conversations and new experiences can all become part of an artist’s creative process.

Connecting Artists Through Island Connect

Chiara’s residency forms part of Island Connect, an international residency programme creating opportunities for artists to connect, exchange ideas and develop their practices.

Through international residencies, artists are able to experience different creative environments while building relationships with artists and organisations across borders.

These encounters can be an important part of artistic development. They create opportunities to share knowledge, question approaches and discover new possibilities through collaboration and conversation.

From Exchange to New Ideas

Creative development does not always happen in isolation.

Sometimes, new ideas emerge through meeting someone with a completely different perspective. Sometimes they come from experiencing a new place or stepping outside a familiar way of working.

Chiara’s Island Connect experience highlights the importance of these moments of exchange.

By bringing artists together in an international residency setting, Island Connect creates space for these conversations and experiences to become part of the creative process.

Watch Chiara’s Island Connect Film

The film offers an insight into Chiara’s artistic practice and her experience at BIRCA, bringing together interview footage and glimpses of her creative work.

It is a reflection on the value of creative exchange, collaboration and shared experiences — and how stepping into a new environment can help artists develop new ideas.

Watch the film above to discover more about Chiara’s creative practice and her Island Connect residency experience at BIRCA.

Island Connect is funded by Creative Europe.

BIRCA is a residency space for artists on the island of Bornholm in the middle of the Baltic Sea, surrounded by some of Europe’s most fantastic nature.

Exploring Movement and Suspension: Vilma Suuraho at BIRCA

Finnish aerial artist Vilma Suuraho shares an insight into her creative process during her Island Connect residency at BIRCA, Bornholm.

What happens when movement, suspension and choreography come together?

As part of the Island Connect project, Finnish aerial artist Vilma Suuraho spent time developing her creative practice during a residency at BIRCA, a dedicated residency space for artists on the island of Bornholm in the middle of the Baltic Sea.

In a new video, Vilma reflects on her creative process and shares an insight into her experience during the residency.

Exploring Movement Through Suspension

Vilma’s practice explores the possibilities of the body in space, using aerial movement and suspension as tools for creative exploration.

Through movement and choreography, she investigates how the body can communicate, shift and respond to its surroundings. The residency provided an opportunity to step into this process of exploration, allowing ideas to develop through experimentation and physical practice.

The video captures elements of Vilma’s creative process, offering a glimpse behind the scenes at how movement, suspension and choreography come together in her work.

A Creative Residency on Bornholm

Located in the Baltic Sea, Bornholm provides a distinctive environment for artists to step away from everyday routines and immerse themselves in their creative practice.

BIRCA is a residency space for artists situated in the middle of the island. It provides artists with the time and space to experiment, research and develop new ideas within a supportive creative environment.

For Vilma, the residency offered an opportunity to explore her practice through movement while responding to a new environment and allowing her creative process to evolve.

The Island Connect Project

Vilma’s residency at BIRCA forms part of Island Connect, an international project that creates opportunities for artists to connect, exchange ideas and develop their practices across European island communities.

The project recognises the unique role that islands can play as places for artistic experimentation, reflection and connection.

By bringing artists into different island environments, Island Connect encourages creative exchange and gives artists the opportunity to experience new places, perspectives and ways of working.

Island Connect is funded by Creative Europe.

Watch Vilma’s Creative Process

The video offers a closer look at Vilma’s practice and her experience during her Island Connect residency at BIRCA.

Through movement, suspension and choreography, we see how ideas can develop through the body and how a residency can provide the space to explore, experiment and create.

Watch the video above to hear Vilma talk about her creative process and experience at BIRCA.

Island Connect is funded by Creative Europe.

BIRCA is a residency space for artists located on the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea.

Collaboration Through Movement: Hannah and Charlotte at BIRCA

Hannah and Charlotte share an insight into their creative practice and their experience as part of the Island Connect residency programme at BIRCA, Bornholm.

What can happen when two artists come together in a new environment?

For artists Hannah and Charlotte, collaboration provides an opportunity to explore movement, physical expression and new creative ideas. As part of their Island Connect residency at BIRCA on the island of Bornholm, they spent time developing their practice and exploring what can emerge through working together.

A new film captures their residency experience, combining interview footage with expressive movement and performance to offer a glimpse into their collaborative creative process.

Exploring Creativity Through Movement

Movement is at the centre of Hannah and Charlotte’s creative practice.

Through physical expression and performance, they explore how ideas can be communicated through the body and how movement can become a tool for experimentation and discovery.

The film moves between conversation and performance, giving an insight into the creative thinking behind their work while also capturing moments of physical exploration.

Rather than presenting only a finished piece, the film offers a glimpse into the process — the experimentation, exchange and exploration that take place while artists are developing new ideas.

Working Together, Creating Together

Collaboration can open up new possibilities for artists.

Working alongside another artist creates opportunities to respond, challenge, adapt and build on each other’s ideas. A movement can suggest another movement; an idea can develop into something unexpected; and experimentation can lead a creative process in a completely new direction.

For Hannah and Charlotte, the Island Connect residency provided dedicated time and space to explore this collaborative process.

Their work demonstrates how artistic exchange can become part of the creative practice itself.

A Creative Residency at BIRCA

Hannah and Charlotte’s residency took place at BIRCA, a residency space for artists on the island of Bornholm in the middle of the Baltic Sea.

Surrounded by some of Europe’s most remarkable natural landscapes, BIRCA provides artists with an environment in which they can step away from their usual routines and focus on their creative development.

Being immersed in a different place can encourage artists to observe their surroundings differently and approach their work from new perspectives.

For Hannah and Charlotte, the residency created space for collaboration, experimentation and the development of their shared creative practice.

Connecting Artists Across Borders

Their residency is part of Island Connect, an international project that creates opportunities for artists to connect, collaborate and develop their practices through international residency experiences.

At the heart of Island Connect is the idea that bringing artists together can create meaningful creative exchange.

International residencies provide artists with opportunities to meet people from different backgrounds, encounter new environments and share different approaches to making work.

These connections can continue beyond the residency itself, creating new relationships and possibilities for future collaboration.

The Value of Artistic Exchange

The experience of Hannah and Charlotte highlights one of the important elements of an artistic residency: having the time and freedom to experiment.

Not every idea needs to become a finished work.

Sometimes the most valuable part of the process is the opportunity to try something new, respond to another artist and discover where an idea might lead.

Through movement, performance and collaboration, Hannah and Charlotte’s residency demonstrates how international artistic exchange can create space for new ideas to emerge.

Watch Hannah and Charlotte’s Island Connect Film

The film offers a glimpse into their creative practice and their experience at BIRCA, combining interview footage with expressive movement and performance.

It celebrates the connections that can form when artists come together and the opportunities that international residencies provide for collaboration, experimentation and artistic development.

Watch the film above to discover more about Hannah and Charlotte’s Island Connect residency experience at BIRCA.

Island Connect is funded by Creative Europe.

BIRCA is a residency space for artists on the island of Bornholm in the middle of the Baltic Sea, surrounded by some of Europe’s most fantastic nature.

Movement in the Air: Lisa Giambra at BIRCA

Aerial artist Lisa Giambra shares an insight into her creative practice and her experience as part of the Island Connect project at BIRCA, Bornholm.

What happens when movement becomes a language?

For aerial artist Lisa Giambra, movement, physicality and choreography are central to her artistic practice. During her Island Connect residency at BIRCA on the island of Bornholm, Lisa had the opportunity to explore her practice within a new environment and connect with artists through international creative exchange.

A new film captures this experience, combining an interview with captivating footage of Lisa performing on the aerial hoop.

Exploring Movement Through Aerial Performance

Aerial performance brings together strength, movement, balance and choreography, creating a unique relationship between the artist and the space around them.

In the film, Lisa’s aerial hoop performance offers a glimpse into the physicality behind her work. Through dynamic choreography, she explores movement through the air, using the apparatus as both a physical structure and a creative tool.

The performance demonstrates how an idea can be communicated through the body — through rhythm, shape, suspension and movement.

Alongside the performance footage, Lisa discusses her creative practice and the process behind her work, offering an insight into the ideas and physical preparation that shape her performances.

Creating at BIRCA

Lisa’s residency took place at BIRCA, a residency space for artists located on the island of Bornholm in the middle of the Baltic Sea.

Surrounded by some of Europe’s most remarkable natural landscapes, BIRCA provides artists with space to step away from their everyday surroundings and dedicate time to their creative practice.

For an aerial artist, space is particularly important. The physical environment can influence movement, choreography and the way a performer approaches their work.

The residency offered Lisa an opportunity to develop her practice while experiencing a new landscape and becoming part of an international artistic environment.

The Creative Process Behind the Performance

What audiences see in a finished aerial performance is only one part of the creative process.

Behind every movement is experimentation, physical preparation, choreography and repetition. Artists explore what the body can do, how movements connect and how an idea can be translated into physical form.

Lisa’s film gives us a glimpse into this process, moving between conversation and performance to show both the artist and the work.

The result is a portrait of an aerial artist in practice — exploring movement, physicality and creative expression.

Connecting Through Artistic Exchange

Lisa’s residency forms part of Island Connect, an international project creating opportunities for artists to develop their practices while connecting with other artists and new environments.

International residencies can offer artists more than simply a new place to work. They create opportunities for exchange — sharing experiences, approaches and ideas with artists from different backgrounds and disciplines.

This exchange is an important part of the Island Connect experience, encouraging artists to explore their practices while building connections across European artistic communities.

Watch Lisa’s Island Connect Journey

The film offers a window into Lisa’s creative practice, combining her reflections with powerful aerial performance footage.

Through movement on the aerial hoop, Lisa brings her artistic expression into the space around her, demonstrating the physicality, creativity and discipline behind aerial performance.

Watch the film above to discover more about Lisa’s creative practice and her experience as part of Island Connect at BIRCA.

Island Connect is funded by Creative Europe.

BIRCA is a residency space for artists on the island of Bornholm in the middle of the Baltic Sea, surrounded by some of Europe’s most fantastic nature.

Art, Movement, Sound and Place: Natalia Borčić at BIRCA

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Croatian artist Natalia Borčić shares an insight into her artistic practice and her experience as part of the Island Connect residency programme at BIRCA, Bornholm.

How can a place influence the way we create?

For Croatian artist Natalia Borčić, the relationship between artistic practice and place is an important part of the creative process. During her Island Connect residency at BIRCA on the island of Bornholm, Natalia had the opportunity to explore this relationship while developing her work in a new environment.

A new film captures moments from her residency, combining interview footage, artwork and glimpses into her creative process.

Exploring the Relationship Between Art and Place

Natalia’s practice brings together different forms of creative expression, exploring connections between visual art, movement and sound.

The film offers an intimate look at this process, showing how ideas can emerge and evolve through experimentation. Rather than focusing solely on a finished artwork, it gives an insight into the journey behind the work — the observations, movement, sounds and moments of discovery that form part of an artist’s practice.

Working within a new environment can create opportunities to look at familiar ideas differently. For Natalia, the residency provided space to explore these connections while surrounded by the distinctive landscape of Bornholm.

A Residency in the Heart of Bornholm

BIRCA is a residency space for artists located on the island of Bornholm in the middle of the Baltic Sea.

Surrounded by some of Europe’s most remarkable natural landscapes, Bornholm offers an inspiring setting for artists to step away from their usual surroundings and immerse themselves in their creative practice.

The relationship between artist and environment is an important part of the residency experience. The landscape, atmosphere and character of a place can become part of the creative process, influencing how artists observe, think and make work.

For Natalia, BIRCA provided a space to explore her practice while experiencing the island and its surroundings.

Creative Exchange Through Island Connect

Natalia’s residency forms part of Island Connect, an international project that creates opportunities for artists to come together, exchange ideas and develop their creative practices across European island communities.

At the heart of the project is the idea of connection — between artists, disciplines, communities and places.

Residencies create time and space for artists to experiment and develop new ideas, while also encouraging creative exchange. These encounters can introduce artists to different approaches and perspectives, creating opportunities for new ideas to emerge.

Natalia’s experience at BIRCA reflects this process of exploration and exchange, bringing together her artistic practice with the unique environment of Bornholm.

A Glimpse Behind the Creative Process

The film provides an opportunity to see Natalia’s work beyond the finished artwork.

Through interview footage, artwork and moments of creative experimentation, we get a glimpse into how visual art, movement and sound can interact and how place can become part of an artist’s creative thinking.

It is also a reminder that artistic development is often a process of exploration — of observing, questioning, experimenting and responding to the world around us.

Watch Natalia’s Island Connect Residency

Watch the film above to hear Natalia speak about her artistic practice and experience at BIRCA, and to discover more about the creative process behind her work.

Her residency is one example of the artistic exchange made possible through Island Connect, connecting artists with new environments and creating space for experimentation, collaboration and creative development.

Island Connect is funded by Creative Europe.

BIRCA is a residency space for artists on the island of Bornholm in the middle of the Baltic Sea, surrounded by some of Europe’s most fantastic nature.

The artistic research has been ongoing, immersive, and at times wonderfully intense. Despite the warm weather and occasional strong winds, each day has brought new discoveries, conversations, and connections that have enriched this experience in ways that could not have been anticipated.

Throughout this journey, the group have had the privilege of meeting dozens of curious, open-hearted people. Among them were some truly special characters – the hardworking, domesticated four-legged residents who have become an unforgettable part of the landscape and daily life here.

Over the course of this residency, the group have shared spaces, views, ideas, and research discussions with local communities, fellow artists, and fellow Island Connect researchers. Together, we have explored questions of place, belonging, culture, and connection, creating meaningful exchanges that will continue to resonate long after this chapter comes to a close.

As my time here draws to an end and I prepare to move on to the next stage of the journey, I find myself reflecting on the generosity and hospitality that have surrounded this work. The warmth of the local community, combined with the powerful presence of the natural environment, has shaped both the research and the experience in profound ways.

This Drama Cake Studio site-specific artistic research project has been organised and supported by BIRCA – Bækkelund International Residency Center for Artists, Island Connect, the Domino Project, Statens Kunstfond, Creative Europe, and the wider IslandConnect.eu network.

Most importantly, our gratitude extends to everyone who has contributed to this experience: the volunteers, farmers, artists, poets, workers, dreamers, and nature lovers who welcomed conversations, shared stories, and helped build meaningful connections. To the animals, butterflies, communal spaces, and living landscapes that formed part of this journey, thank you for your presence and inspiration.

Thank you all for showing up, sharing your generosity, and helping to create connections that remind us of the value of community, culture, nature, and our shared humanity.

The research may be concluding here, but the connections made along the way will continue to travel forward.