ARCTICulators: Cristina Granados
What exactly is an ARCTICulator? The innovative people of the Arctic who live life in creativity, and much more…
We met up with artist and director of E&G Theater, Cristina Granados, originally from Seville, Spain now based in Stamsund. How did you end up moving to Nordland?
Actually, I think the question is what made me stay? Life takes you to many places, but the
most important fact is what makes you stay. For me it was the possibilities that were given to me at that time, as a young woman.
I always have been very curious since I was a little girl. I have been traveling a lot always, with my parents when I was a kid and later when I was younger, I did not stop moving, not now either.
When I finished with my studies I didn´t want to settle down. I started working as a translator and as a Spanish teacher for a group of Americans in Sevilla. They invited me to Denver and I spend a
summer there with them traveling the whole south of The United States. When I went back to Sevilla I started working in a café to save money and go back to Denver where I could work with interesting people I met. But suddenly like a «southwest storm» from the Arctic, Andreas Eilertsen came into my life and change all the plans I had for the future. I came with him to Norway in April 2002 and from there we created our beautiful universe together.
Culture is a big word, and in Bodø2024 we believe culture is in everything we live and breathe.
Can you point out what it is in arctic culture that inspires you most in your daily work?
Oh! That is a very big question, especially thinking about defining what culture is….
What inspires me most living in the Arctic is the people, encounters, talks and reflections. Because culture is developed as we seek to fill our basic needs. It is taught from one generation to the next. When I meet people and share with them the stories we are already creating something. I love the discussions around the table after a good dinner. Especially with other artists living here or just visiting for a period and sharing their experience. I feel privileged to be where I am.
For me, culture is inherent, everywhere – It’s is in art, music, dance, literature, culture. It is the way we dress every day and what we eat for breakfast. Culture is cumulative ideas, and behaviors collected by each society. That´s why it is not programmed, it is not automatic and it is not something that we can avoid becoming part of.
What type of cultural activites in the region do you enjoy personally, and makes you feel connected
to your surroundings?
Definetly the activities related to performing arts, the festivals in Nordland and specially the
productions that are created in Stamsund with the theater community we have here. Living in
Stamsund is a privilege, as an artist and as an inhabitant. What happens here is recognized all over Europe, but it takes time to build this, you don't manage to do it in a decade! The persistent work of everybody here has created a unique place. We have to take care of that. We have been taking care of the old cinema in Stamsund. We gave life back to the building, restoring it and filling it with great cultural activities for all audiences. Taking care of the heritage of Stamsund, Lofoten and Nordland. Creating new performances and giving it back to the people.
Bodø2024 defines you as a portrait of ARCTICulators, joining the new northern movement. What advice would you like to give to other international movers joining the arctic culture?
Don´t rush, take time, talk with the people, join them on a boat trip to a forgotten place. Search for the less known places and be surprised. Nordland has changed a lot since I came here, it is more attractive than before because people are using more the resources you find here, people are aware of what we can offer to the visitors and we know that the experiences are unforgettable, but
you have to do all that with passion. We cannot be content just because nature is beautiful here.
You have to create the experiences and make them unforgettable, because when you do that you have created an emotion that will stay in the memories longer, maybe forever.
https://www.nfk.no/scenekunst-i-nordland/om-scenekunst/
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Kjenner du en ARCTICulator i Nordland? Kontakt oss i Bodø2024!