On 27 February, the ISLANDS open call closed. The call was dedicated to selecting choreographic projects to be supported through artistic residencies for artists with origins or residence in Sicily, within the framework of the INNESTI project. The call received 41 applications, a result that highlights how urgent and necessary it is to create new opportunities to support choreographic research in the region. Among the proposals received, 21 come from emerging voices who have not yet had access to structured artistic residency programmes. This is a significant figure, reflecting a vibrant emerging scene eager to find spaces for development, exchange, and mentorship. The geographical distribution of the applications also offers an interesting snapshot of the network of relationships shaping the contemporary choreographic landscape:

21 projects were submitted by groups based in Sicily,
11 by organisations active in the rest of Italy,
9 from different parts of the world.

From all the applications, the projects that will take part in the two artistic residencies will soon be selected. Each residency will last 10 days and is conceived as a dedicated space for research, experimentation, and the development of creative processes. The residencies will also include a public sharing of the research processes, aimed at presenting working materials, gathering impressions, encouraging discussion, and fostering a direct dialogue with the community. On Saturday 24 May, at Sala La Pépinière in Acireale, spectators will have the opportunity to encounter the practices and artistic trajectories currently unfolding within the project.