Matera to Future, a tale from the first edition of MAGMA Residency

A tale from the first edition of Magma Residency, a transdisciplinary artistic residency designed to foster a diverse and collective vision for the future of Matera.

Since 2022, November has been a big deal for Materahub – not just for the holiday buzz, but because it’s MAGMAfest month, our annual celebration for innovation where artists, tech wizards, creatives, and culture pros collide, sparking fresh ideas and unexpected breakthroughs.

Like molten magma fusing everything in its path into something uniquely rich, we’re all about blending knowledge and skills to create bold new ideas to build alliances, reimagine systems, write fresh glossaries, and dream beyond the obvious. This year, we took things up a notch with something brand-new and seriously exciting: a transdisciplinary artistic residency.

Powered by our partnership with EcoVerticale and funded by Culture Moves Europe, the permanent mobility scheme funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union, the residency made its debut right in the thick of MAGMAfest, showcasing its results during the festival itself.

What’s Magma Residency

Magma Residency is a transdisciplinary artistic residency designed to foster a diverse and collective vision for the future of the city of Matera: a city with a complex history of urban transformations – from an abandoned city in the post-war era to the European Capital of Culture in 2019 – which now stands at a crossroads.

Facing the pressures of over-tourism and the challenge of rediscovering a shared purpose, Matera is in urgent need of a fresh, sustainable direction. With this assumption, this residency was all about reigniting Matera’s ability to dream big about its future, guiding citizens through a process of collective visioning, putting them front and center in urban planning and reclaiming public spaces.

The aim? Not just to imagine a better city, but to equip the community with the tools to actively shape it – through negotiation, collaboration, and blending diverse perspectives.

Image credits: Action Collective

The Journey to the Exhibition

Three artists were selected for the MAGMA Residency: Bianca Streich, Jeremy Leung, and Dasha Podoltseva.

From November 8th to 30th they immersed themselves in the city’s rich history, building relationships with local communities, and organizing workshops, discussions, and listening sessions.

As the artist Jeremy Leung said: We were given the keys (people) to the city and invited to explore Matera through different lenses. By actively engaging with the local community, seeking guidance from mentors, and collaborating with fellow artists, we were able to bring our exhibition to life”.

And again the artist Bianca Streich commented: “We didn’t step into the place, we were invited to discover. We met with different groups who are active in and around the city, who are already enthusiastically building an inclusive, free and innovative city. We were little collectors fascinated by everything that surrounded us. We gathered curiosities from nature and the built environment and made many friends along the way.

And Dasha Podoltseva: “The residency becomes a concentrated immersion in beauty, where every moment feels like art, blending effortless and meaningful communication”.

Jeremy Leung
Bianca Streich
Dasha Podoltseva

5 key themes

The artists explored the city through five key themes, guided by the expertise and collaboration of five local organizations:

  1. The City of Cracks: Exploring Matera’s physical and symbolic wounds, viewing imperfections as connections between past and future – curated by TAM Museum
  2. The City of Plants: Examining how vegetation shapes urban and rural life, and inspires sustainability – curated by  Sara Simeone and NoiOrtadini.
  3. The City of Inclusion: Designing spaces for children and marginalized groups, fostering imagination and participation – curated by il Sicomoro and Cristina Amenta.
  4. The City of Migration: Reflecting on Matera’s migration history and cultural diversity, with a focus on inclusion and intercultural dialogue – curated by Atomico progetti APS.
  5. The City of Music: Exploring Matera’s soundscaping – curated by Matera Elettrica and Angela Dibenedetto.

“Since We Are Here” for the community’s aspirations

The residency culminated in a final showcase, where a shared, sustainable vision for the city was collaboratively imagined and realized.The exhibition, titled “Since We Are Here” wove a narrative of a possible future by drawing on traces of a civilization – its past, present, and potential for reconstruction. The artists explored the evolution of this ancient city using innovative tools and natural materials, redefining and interpreting space to pose a thought-provoking question to the audience: What would make us stay here?

Throughout the weeks of the residency, the artists immersed themselves in the city’s essence – its landscapes, traditions, and, most importantly, its people. These connections formed the heart of the exhibition, celebrating the individuals who actively shape Matera into a vibrant place for generations to come.

The showcase featured thematic spaces like the “Digital Archaeology” and the “Room of Dreams” inviting visitors to engage in a collective experience. These spaces delved into the innocence of childhood practices to explore identities while envisioning a future grounded in sustainability and inclusion.

The exhibition became a living testament to the community’s aspirations, blending past wisdom with innovative perspectives to inspire a brighter tomorrow.

Credits: