CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: Research stays and projects 2025

6th Call for Applications for Research Stays for Projects and Artist Residencies “Gonzalo M. Borrás Gualis”

Submission deadline: Until October 31, 2025

Territorio Mudéjar announces the SIXTH EDITION of Gonzalo M. Borrás Gualis research stays and projects aimed at directly supporting the work of researchers and project promoters who want to work on the development of villages through the responsible and sustainable use of cultural and natural heritage resources.

The projects carried out since 2019 have strengthened this initiative as one of our initiative as one of our most important lines of of our most important lines of work based on the development of actions that enhance the retention and attraction of talent, actions aimed at the construction of highly qualified professional networks networks linked to the use of historical, artistic and cultural resources , contributing to medium- and long-term territorial development.artistic and cultural resources , contributing to medium and long-term territorial development.

Territorio Mudéjar is an association of local councils, currently comprising 49 member councils and one collaborating partner, whose objective is to consolidate a unified and collaborative management network for the use of historical and artistic resources linked to the important Mudéjar heritage, understanding them as a driving force for the development of towns and as an element of identity for the maintenance of the communities that make up our territory.

Our action program follows strategic lines aligned with the objectives of the 2030 Agenda, whose guiding principle is that “the cultural identity of territories will contribute to sustainable social and economic development by differentiating markets and, in turn, enabling their integration into a diversified economy that can ensure their future success.”

This project is dedicated to Professor Gonzalo M. Borrás Gualis, a staunch defender of the management of Aragonese heritage, villages, and territory, as an action of the people and as an innovative field of work with a promising future.

His work exemplified with perfect coherence the possibility of combining research work of high scientific impact with a commitment to the land and its people. of high scientific impact with a commitment to the land and its people, not only favouring the knowledge, conservation and dissemination of its historical-artistic heritage, but also by modernising work processes and by proposing innovative innovation projects in which natural, cultural and heritage resources are a key element in the future of the towns.

Vista panorámica del casco urbano de Tarazona con la catedral, la torre de la Magdalena y la plaza de toros octogonal.

Transdisciplinary thinking, networking, and partnerships as tools for innovation

RESEARCH STAYS FOR PROJECTS. THE OPPORTUNITY TO FORM ALLIANCES WITH STRATEGIC ENTITIES AND PROFESSIONALS TO DEVELOP PROJECTS WITH GREATER IMPACT.

The activity, which began in 2019, has established itself as our organization’s most important strategic project, consolidating the R&D&I strategy with 29 pilot projects involving more than 40 management professionals.

The project was considered an exemplary case study by the Ministry of Culture and Sport at the World Heritage Managers Meeting held in Mérida in 2022.

It has also been considered an example of innovation and good practice in various European cooperation projects. In this regard, we should highlight our organization’s position, through the Estancias project, in the Interreg Europe program: between 2019 and 2023, as part of the MOMAr Models of Management for Singular Rural Heritage project, our project was chosen by the provincial government of Groningen and the Libau Foundation as a reference model for their Heritage Lab project, the centerpiece of their action plan. in 2024, our organization took part in the launch event for the REliHE Religious Heritage in Rural Areas project at the Polytechnic University of Turin, invited to present the project as a case study of good practices.

The long-term goal is to build an innovative structure that supports an international network designed to meet the needs of managing heritage resources located in villages.

Thus, in 2025, the association has partnerships with administrations and entities with which it shares objectives and methodology for growth: the Alliance of Cultural Landscapes and Related Sites, with management entities from fourteen UNESCO heritage sites; the Network of Medinas, within the framework of a collaboration on international projects and routes; the architecture and design department of the Polytechnic University of Turín and various other universities.

THE ARTISTIC RESIDENCY. THE PLACE WHERE IDEAS ARE BORN

Since the 2022 call for proposals, the Estancias project has incorporated a work area called the Creative Laboratory, a space within the research for projects that allowed for the exploration of Territorio Mudéjar as a place of action and creativity, dissolving the boundaries between areas of knowledge, which were orderly and differentiated, and often led us to places that were complex to manage.

This workspace allowed us to work on the concept of “artistic residency” with the aim of understanding the heritage space and the context in which it is located as a multifaceted space, promoting artistic creation projects with a strong connection to the territory, the landscape, and/or the heritage space.

Following the success of the first call for artistic residencies, this area continues to focus on research, experimentation, exchange, learning, critical reflection, and the dissemination of local practices and knowledge through dialogue between artistic research, communities, the territory, places, and non-places.

The aim is to encourage the opening up of new processes and directions of knowledge in order to explore new paths; to foster creative thinking by generating spaces for dialogue and starting points between art, science, and technology from an artistic perspective, with a view to the development and maintenance of communities and their inhabitants.

To improve the monitoring and support process for the selected residency, this second call for applications focuses on working with the concept of Cultural Landscape, in support of the designation of Cariñena as European Wine City 2025.

CONSULT:

Image: Courtesy of the artist-researcher ©ChemaAgustín Riglorámico Project

DIGITALISATION = STRATEGIC TOOL

The management of historical, artistic and cultural heritage is evolving rapidly thanks to digital technologies. The challenge now is to apply a strategic vision to these processes and the unprecedented opportunities offered by new technologies, and to use them in the most and the unprecedented opportunities offered by new technologies and to use them in the most efficient way possible, ensuring that the efforts efficient way possible , ensuring that the efforts made at this time of “boom ” have a long “boom” are sustainable over time and allow for the development of future projects.

Therefore, one of the criteria being continued this year is that all deliverables in a digital version (photographs, photographs, videos, etc.) must year is that all deliverable products in digital version (photographs, videos, digital models, audio files, etc.) must be videos, digital models, audio files, etc.) comply with the study Study on quality in 3D digitisation of tangible cultural heritage: mapping parameters, formats, standards, benchmarks, methodologies, and guidelines published in 2022 and follow the lines of work indicated in the recommendation of 10/11/2021 on a common European data space for cultural heritage , thus adapting the quality criteria in this way quality criteria established in the in the Digitalisation Strategy of Territorio Mudéjar.

This strategy is in line with the latest recommendations of the European Commission and also takes into account, the standards of the most commonly used platforms and repositories such as Europeana and such as Europeana or Google Arts.

The aim of Territorio Mudéjar is for all projects to have a digital focus that allows for the implementation of adapted transfer channels. To this end, all beneficiaries of the aid will receive information and training on the Territorio Mudéjar Digitalization Strategy during the first phase of their project and will be monitored continuously throughout its development to help them comply with it.

READ

CONSULT

Terms and conditions of calls for applications

Research for projects: modality 1

THE USES OF HERITAGE IN THE VILLAGES OF THE MUDÉJAR TERRITORY

AMOUNT: €7,500

DURATION OF THE SCHOLARSHIP: Between 4 and 7 months.

CONTEXT: Interreg Europe Project. REliHE Religious heritage in rural areas.

COMMENTS: The proposal must include a minimum justified stay in two member towns of Territorio Mudéjar. It will be evaluated based on the project submitted.

See conditions

Research and projects: modality 2

MODELS FOR MANAGING THE MONUMENT AND ITS PROTECTED ENVIRONMENT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF AUTHENTICITY AND PREVENTIVE CONSERVATION

AMOUNT: €7,500

DURATION OF THE SCHOLARSHIP: Between 4 and 7 months.

CONTEXT: Collaboration with the parish of La Seo in Zaragoza. The Archbishopric of Zaragoza has been an honorary member of Territorio Mudéjar since 2018.

COMMENTS: The proposal must include a justified minimum stay in at least two member towns of Territorio Mudéjar and work with a minimum of three monuments. It will be evaluated based on the project submitted.

See conditions

Research and projects: modality 3

STUDY OF ALABASTER PLASTER AND ITS IMPACT ON THE TERRITORY: INNOVATION AND QUALITY FROM ITS HISTORICAL STUDY

AMOUNT: €7,500

DURATION OF THE SCHOLARSHIP: Between 4 and 7 months.

CONTEXT: Collaboration with CIDA, the Alabaster Development Center.

COMMENTS: The proposal must include a justified minimum stay in at least four member locations of Territorio Mudéjar and CIDA. In addition, work must be carried out on at least two monuments and two landscapes. It will be evaluated based on the project submitted.

See conditions

Artistic residencies

CULTURAL LANDSCAPE: ARTISTIC STUDY OF THE WINE LANDSCAPE

AMOUNT: €4,500

DURATION OF THE SCHOLARSHIP: Between 4 and 7 months.

CONTEXT: Cariñena European City of Wine 2025.

COMMENTS: The proposal must include a justified minimum stay in Cariñena and in at least two member towns of Territorio Mudéjar. It will be evaluated based on the project submitted.

See conditions

Activities and promotional events related to the call for applications

If you are interested, please contact us at: info@territoriomudejar.es

Schedule to be determined

Visits to heritage sites in the towns of the Mudéjar Territory for evaluation as case studies.

September 25. [12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.]

La Almunia de Doña Godina. San Juan Palace.

Opening and presentation of the exhibition “Territorio Mudéjar La Guía” Project resulting from the 2020 call for residencies.

September 30 [10:00 am - 11:00 a.m]

Albalate del Arzobispo Castle. Integral Center for Alabaster Development.

Webinar: Key points for applying for the call for proposals.

Open to the public in person

October 14 [10:00 a.m -11:00 a.m]

Location to be determined.

Webinar: Key points for applying for the call for proposals.

Open to the public in person

October 21 [10.00h-11.00h]

Location to be determined.

Webinar: Key points for applying for the call for proposals.

Open to the public in person

TM participates in Cultourfair, the premium cultural tourism fair held in Seville

Territorio Mudéjar participates from 24 to 26 September in Cultourfair, the only international B2B fair of premium cultural tourism in the world. This event takes place in Seville and positions us as an example of management. In fact, we have scheduled 30 meetings with entities that promote heritage destinations and intense networking with international agencies and media.

The event organisers carry out an intense campaign of direct international promotion to its network of contacts, which exceeds 300,000 executives, to attract between 300 and 600 potential buyers, of which only the 50 with the greatest business potential are approved to participate. All of them directors and executives with decision-making power, specialising in: luxury travel, events (sports, music, wine, gourmet, etc.), MICE, city breaks, heritage, gastronomy, folklore, religion, etc…

The event’s programme offers an agenda of pre-established appointments with carefully selected buyers. The conference will be complemented by a high-level networking programme, promoting contact between all participants to foster business alliances that will facilitate the return on investment.

We are thus making progress in our mission to consolidate a unified and collaborative management network for the use of the historical-artistic resources linked to the important Mudejar heritage, understanding them as a driving force for the development of the villages and as an element of identity for the maintenance of the communities that make up our territory.

#cultourfair2023

Extraordinary Call: Sustainability Plan Daroca

SELECTION OF A PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANT TO PROJECT MANAGEMENT.

Advice, consultation, monitoring and scientific support in the management of historical-artistic heritage for the development of the Tourism Sustainability Plan for the city of Daroca.

Deadline for submission: Until August 31, 2023. [Until 3:00 p.m.]

Territorio Mudéjar is an association of municipalities, currently forty-seven member municipalities and one collaborating partner, whose objective is to strengthen a unified and collaborative management network for the use of historical and artistic resources linked to the important Mudejar heritage, understanding them as an engine for the development of the towns and as an element of identity for the maintenance of the communities that make up our territory.

Our programme of actions for the coming years has been designed in accordance with the strategic lines defined by the defined by the ” Roadmap of the Council of the European Union 2019- 2022″, which2022″ which, aligned with the goals of the 2030 Agenda, have as a guiding principle that “the cultural identity of territories will contribute to territories will contribute to sustainable social and economic development by differentiating markets and in turn allowing their integration into a diversified a diversified economy that can ensure their future success.

The CITY COUNCIL OF DAROCA has been a founding member of the Territorio Mudéjar Association since 2018, ratified in a founding assembly on September 13, 2018.

According to the statutes approved in assembly on September 13, 2018, some of the actions for the partner municipalities go through:

  • To assist in the management and search for funding for projects that allow for the conservation, restoration, maintenance and dissemination of the assets, in all their extension, […]
  • To promote and collaborate with the Administration in the tasks of a social nature that facilitate the maintenance and increase of the population members of the association, and which are mentioned in Chapter I Article 4, as well as the rest of the figures attached to the association, assuming training and employment programs.
  • Drafting and updating public or private endogenous and sustainable development plans and programmes.
  • Encourage collaboration with entities of the same nature or purpose.

According to art.7 of the Statutes approved in assembly on September 13, 2018, the development of the purposes may be carried out “through contracts, concerts or agreements entered into with public or private entities, either to carry out programs of such entities, or to develop the association’s own duly approved action programs”.

"Plan of Sustainability and Tourist Modernization of the City Council of Daroca. Facilitating access to Heritage from accessibility".

The municipality of Daroca participated in the extraordinary call for Territorial Plans of Tourism Sustainability in Destination, hereinafter PSTD, in the call for the year 2021.

The project was approved by the Secretary of State for Tourism of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism and the Department of Industry, Competitiveness and Business Development of the Government of Aragon on October 17, 2022.

The approved project is defined through projects and actions focused on:

* The adequacy of the walled enclosure. Daroca has almost 4 kilometers of walls that make it one of the most extensive walled enclosures in Spain that requires urgent intervention for its conservation. The intervention consists of the restoration in 3 years of the sections with greater visual impact of the tourist.

* The adequacy of the area of the Castillo Mayor. Although the Torre del Homenaje has already been consolidated, it is necessary to continue with the intervention in the rest of the castle to ensure its conservation and attractiveness for tourists. Both in the access areas, as in the consolidation of the wall of the enclosure.

* The adequacy of roads and trails that allow access and visit both castle, walls and other existing monuments (towers, La Mina, green areas, etc.). Although there is already a path, it is necessary to have funds for its adaptation and maintenance. In addition, the municipality’s green areas will be adapted and new ones will be proposed.

* The decoration of facades within the LIENZOS DE HISTORIA project, also known as Muralea. The proposal allows highlighting the historical diversity and historical cultural fusion of Christian, Muslim and Jewish cultures. The project, recently launched, will be continued over the next three years, expanding the areas of action.

* The adequacy and rehabilitation of streets with the burying of wiring. The street network needs to be improved and rehabilitated together with the burying of cables that have a great visual impact on the urban landscape.

DAROCA. MONUMENTAL HISTORICAL SITE.

A large part of the actions approved in the sustainability plan affect the Historic-Artistic Site of Cultural Interest of the city of Daroca, declared in accordance with Decree 1450/1968 of June 6 and published in BOE No. 158 of July 2, 1968.

And in addition to the aforementioned declaration, the actions affect assets of different nature included, among others, in the Order of April 17, 2006, of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports, which approves the list of Castles and their location, considered Assets of Cultural Interest under the provisions of the second additional provision of Law 3/1999, of March 10, of the Aragonese Cultural Heritage, for the Daroca fortified enclosureDecree 267/2002, of July 23, 2002, of the Government of Aragón, declaring the “La Mina” of Daroca (Zaragoza) an Asset of Cultural Interest, in the category of Monument; Decree 572/1963, of March 14, 2003, second additional provision of the law.

As well as the assets included in the catalogs of architectural heritage and archaeological heritage of the PGOU of Daroca. The catalog of architectural heritage includes 31 properties that require integral protection, 35 that require structural protection and 143 that require environmental protection.

DAROCA. SPECIAL AGREEMENT MUDEJAR TERRITORY PARTNERS

The CITY COUNCIL OF DAROCA has been a founding member of the Territorio Mudéjar Association since 2018, ratified in a founding assembly on September 13, 2018.

The MUDÉJAR TERRITORY ASSOCIATION has been working since its foundation in 2018 on the creation of specific advisory structures for the partner municipalities, currently 47 partners and 1 collaborating municipality, whose objective is to strengthen a unified and collaborative management network for the use of historical-artistic resources linked to the important heritage of the villages and understanding them as an engine for the development of the villages and as an element of identity for the maintenance of the communities that make up our territory.

The agreement regulates the collaboration between both entities for:

  • Assist in the planning and execution of consulting, technical, legal or financial advisory actions, among others, necessary and foreseen in the PSTD to ensure the proper development of those actions within the provisions of the plan and specifically in accordance with the general regime of protection of Historical Heritage at the state and autonomous community level.

  • To create a specific work team to support the Daroca town council in the development of the PSTD, with a group of experts coordinated by the management team:

    A scientific-technical advisor expert in the management of the historical-artistic heritage of Daroca from the field of preventive conservation, intervention and the study of the use of heritage in the service of cultural and heritage tourism.

    It will also have two emerging professionals as project assistants and will create a training internship position for recent graduates through an agreement signed with UNIVERSA – Employment Counseling Office of the University of Zaragoza-.

    Finally, it will create a PSTD office for neighbors, companies and those interested in the project in order to study the synergies arising from the Plan.

EXTRAORDINARY PROFESSIONAL CALL

SELECTION OF A PROFESSIONAL TO JOIN THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT TEAM:

Advice, consultation, monitoring and scientific support in the management of historical-artistic heritage for the development of the Tourism Sustainability Plan for the city of Daroca.

PUBLICATION OF THE RULES: August 16, 2023.

PRESENTATION OF PROPOSALS. Until August 31 at 3:00 pm.

REQUEST FOR CONSULTATION OF THE DOCUMENTATION ON THE SUSTAINABILITY PLAN: Until August 31 before 3:00 p.m. through info@territoriomudejar.es.

See terms and conditions

AWARD

The Contracting Committee meeting held on September 18, 2023, agreed to award the contract to the bid submitted by:

DÑA. IRENE RUIZ BAZÁN

RULES CALL FOR PROPOSALS: Research stays and projects 2023

5th Call for researchstays for artistic projects and residencies “Gonzalo M. Borrás Gualis”.

Deadline for submission: Until 31 August.

Territorio Mudéjar announces the FIFTH EDITION of the Gonzalo M. Gonzalo M. Borrás Gualis researchstays and projects. Borrás Gualis aimed at directly supporting the work of researchers and project of researchers and project promoters who want to work on the development of the to work for the development of villages through the responsible and sustainable use of cultural and natural heritage resources. and sustainable use of cultural and natural heritage resources.

Territorio Mudéjar is an association of town councils, currently thirty-six member town councils and one collaborating partner, whose objective is to consolidate a unified and collaborative management network for the use of the historical and artistic resources linked to the important Mudejarartistic resources linked to the important Mudejar heritage , understanding them as a driving force for the development of the villages and as an and as an element of identity for the maintenance of the communities that make up our territory.

Our programme of actions for the coming years has been designed in accordance with the strategic lines defined by the defined by the ” Roadmap of the Council of the European Union 2019- 2022″, which2022″ which, aligned with the goals of the 2030 Agenda, have as a guiding principle that “the cultural identity of territories will contribute to territories will contribute to sustainable social and economic development by differentiating markets and in turn allowing their integration into a diversified a diversified economy that can ensure their future success.

The projects carried out since 2019 have strengthened this initiative as one of our initiative as one of our most important lines of of our most important lines of work based on the development of actions that enhance the retention and attraction of talent, actions aimed at the construction of highly qualified professional networks networks linked to the use of historical, artistic and cultural resources , contributing to medium- and long-term territorial development.artistic and cultural resources , contributing to medium and long-term territorial development.

Our project, dedicated to Professor Gonzalo M. Borrás Gualis, a staunch defender of the management of Aragonese heritage and the territory, as an action of the people and as an innovative field of work full of future. His work exemplified with perfect coherence the possibility of combining research work of high scientific impact with a commitment to the land and its people, not only favouring the knowledge, conservation and dissemination of its historical and artistic heritage, but also modernising work processes and proposing innovative projects in which natural, cultural and heritage resources are a key element in the future of the people.

FOCUS
Transdisciplinary thinking as a tool for innovation.

DIGITALISATION = STRATEGIC TOOL

The management of historical, artistic and cultural heritage is evolving rapidly thanks to digital technologies. The challenge now is to apply a strategic vision to these processes and the unprecedented opportunities offered by new technologies, and to use them in the most and the unprecedented opportunities offered by new technologies and to use them in the most efficient way possible, ensuring that the efforts efficient way possible , ensuring that the efforts made at this time of “boom ” have a long “boom” are sustainable over time and allow for the development of future projects.

Therefore, one of the criteria being continued this year is that all deliverables in a digital version (photographs, photographs, videos, etc.) must year is that all deliverable products in digital version (photographs, videos, digital models, audio files, etc.) must be videos, digital models, audio files, etc.) comply with the study Study on quality in 3D digitisation of tangible cultural heritage: mapping parameters, formats, standards, benchmarks, methodologies, and guidelines  published in 2022 and follow the lines of work indicated in the recommendation of 10/11/2021 on a common European data space for cultural heritage , thus adapting the quality criteria in this way quality criteria established in the in the DigitalisationStrategy of Territorio Mudéjar.

This strategy is in line with the latest recommendations of the European Commission and also takes into account, the standards of the most commonly used platforms and repositories such as Europeana and such as Europeana or Google Arts.

All the beneficiaries of the aid will receive information and training on the the DigitisationStrategy of Territorio Mudéjar during the first phase of their the first phase of their project and they will have a specific continuous specific ongoing monitoring during its development to help them comply with it.

READ

ARTISTIC RESIDENCY. THE PLACE WHERE PROJECT IDEAS ARE BORN

Territorio Mudéjar is emerging as a place of action and creativity from areas often place of action and creativity from areas that are often ordered and differentiated and differentiated areas that often dissolve boundaries and take us to places that are complex to manage.

This workspace allows us to work on the concept of ” artisticresidence “ with the aim of understanding the heritage space and the context in which it is located as a multifaceted space. to understand the heritage space and the context in which it is located as a polyhedral space, promoting artistic creation projects with a strong link to the territory, the landscape and/or the heritage space.

This area is oriented towards research, experimentation, exchange, learning, critical reflection and the dissemination of local practices and knowledge, through dialogue between artisticresearch, communities, territory, places and non-places.

The aim is to generate the opening of new processes and directions of knowledge to explore new paths; to encourage creative thinking by generating spaces for dialogue and starting points between art, science and technology from artistic practice with a view to the development and maintenance of the people and their inhabitants.

FUTURE: CALL FOR EXCHANGES OF EUROPEAN PROFESSIONALS

The activity started in 2019 has been consolidated as one of the most important actions of our one of the most important actions of our entity , which strategy called R&D+innovation, with 23 pilot projects involving more than 40 involving more than 40 management professionals.

The project has been considered as an exemplary case study by the Ministry of Culture and Sport at the of Culture and Sport at the Meeting of World Heritage Managers 2022, held in Granada, which is held every year.

It has also been considered asan example of innovation and good practice in various best practices in various European cooperation projects. In this aspect, we must highlight the positioning of our entity, through the Estancias project, in the Interreg Europe project MOMAr Models of Management for Singular Rural Heritage, in which our project has been chosen by the government of the province of Groningen and the Libau Fondation as a reference model for their Heritage Lab project. Groningen and the Libau Fondation as a reference model for its Heritage Lab project, at the heart of its action plan.

With the aim of building international professional networks, we will soon announce the opening of different international networks , we will soon be announcing the opening of different calls for applications designed on the basis of different framework agreements with partners such as the Chamber of Commerce of the provinces of South Sardinia and Oristano, on the Italian island of Sardinia, the province of Groningen, in the Netherlands, through the “Heritage Lab” project, or with the Medinas Network, in the framework of an international partnership.

Research and projects

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS. Until 31 August

TOPICS: Pilot projects

  • New perspectives: Research, tools, applied data, etc.
  • Strategic management: Ideas linked to strategic management.
  • Communication and social function: didactics of heritage, language and communication, audiences, etc.

AMOUNT: €7,500

DURATION OF THE SCHOLARSHIP: Between 4 and 7 months.

OBLIGATIONS: To plan a non-continuous stay or residence in one or several localities from among the Territorio Mudéjar partner town councils. It will be assessed according to the project proposal.  

See terms and conditions

ARTISTIC RESIDENCIES

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS. Until 31 August

TEMAS: Creative Workshop

  • Artistic creation and research: materials, crafts, etc.
  • Sound, acoustics, speech, looking and listening.
  • Virtual space or metaverse.

AMOUNT: €4,500

DURATION OF THE RESIDENCY: The proposal must include a residency in a locality of. Territorio Mudéjar for a duration of between 30 and 60 days.

See terms and conditions

Pilot project to recognise local services suitable for scientific tourism

Territorio Mudéjar is participating in a pilot project with European funding to design its own quality seal to distinguish local establishments with services suitable for scientific tourism linked to heritage and cultural resources.

The project, called Digitour, is funded by the European Commission’s Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises within the framework of the Cosme Cos-Tourinn-2020-3-04 programme and aims to boost the tourism sector by bringing together companies in this sector with providers of innovative and digital solutions using territorial and cultural heritage for tourism purposes. It is also linked to the work of creating networks of professionals with activity and impact in the villages that Territorio Mudéjar develops through its Research Stays and Projects.

The pilot project will begin with the redesign of the brand of the Posada del Almudí in Daroca – a historic building in the centre of the town – with an interesting rehabilitation – and an establishment in Romania, Pensiunea Septiembrie in the town of Elsenita – a recently constructed building integrated in the landscape of the Danube Gorges, in the surroundings of the Natural Park of the Iron Gates, a geopark declared World Heritage by UNESCO, whose associated heritage offers a high cultural value as well as a very interesting ethnographic development.

This union of European companies is, moreover, the result of the exchange trips of good practices of the European project MOMAr Interreg Europe led by the Diputación de Zaragoza and in which the association Territorio Mudéjar has actively participated since its inception in 2019.

This seal of quality recognises establishments that are prepared to cater for the tourism of people and professionals who travel to research, learn about or develop projects related to the heritage and history of the network of towns and villages in the Mudejar Territory and then translate this into their studies.

The pilot project will define the characteristics of hotel services for these customers with the aim of generating a European-wide flow of knowledge-driven travellers.

Globally, the Digitour project, in which Territorio Mudéjar participates, with 12 partner countries will launch 19 collaborative projects in which tourism SMEs and digital providers will collaborate. This will involve improving the tourism skills and capabilities in the cultural field of small and medium-sized enterprises through training and advice. It will also promote innovative ideas for SMEs to improve their offer and the management, marketing and promotion of their services in a new and sustainable way.

SMEs are the backbone of the tourism sector in Europe (they represent 90% of the companies in the sector) and, in this context, they play a crucial role in innovating and relaunching the sector. They often find it difficult to access digital tools and Digitour aims to help them become part of an innovative ecosystem. It does so by granting two types of vouchers.

One, for individual SMEs that want to improve their skills in digital tools. The other is for groups of SMEs cooperating on innovative projects or who want to participate in an international digital ecosystem.

2nd Ibero-American Meeting on Travel, Communication and Tourism in Calatayud

More than 30 experts analysed the challenges facing the tourism sector in the wake of the pandemic over two days at the 2nd Ibero-American Meeting on Travel, Communication and Tourism: Historical Heritage, held in Calatayud.

The director of Territorio Mudéjar, Victoria Trasobares, took part in this event that seeks to reflect on three key concepts that have been impacted by the coronavirus: travel, tourism and communication.

These conferences are organised by the degree in Journalism of the Universidad San Jorge, the Master in Travel Journalism of the Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona and Turismo de Aragón.

Journalists Rosa María Calaf and David Jiménez were in charge of opening the event and spoke about the differences between tourists and travellers at a table moderated by José Juan Verón, director of the Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism (USJ).

There was also time to enjoy the heritage of Calatayud: San Juan el Real, San Pedro de los Francos and the collegiate church of Santa María, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

“It is important to evaluate the impact of actions to disseminate heritage. What you do at the heritage level must first be known by the people who live in the same place,” explained Victoria Trasobares.

Challenge 2022 practices evaluation meeting

How quickly the months go by. Without realising it, the students of the Desafío 2022 Programme have reached the final stretch of their internships. This week, the Territorio Mudéjar team and the network of collaborators and trainers had a meeting to evaluate the internships. A small spoiler: we are delighted with the result.

Thank you all for helping us to continue to build our network of professionals.

Stays 2020: Mudetrad, vernacular architecture trails in Mudejar villages

The project raises the importance of knowledge and appreciation of the local traditional architecture in order to guarantee its protection. Its understanding and appreciation by users avoids its replacement by new buildings and encourages the development of activities aimed at its conservation. The projection of this architecture outside the municipality reinforces its appreciation by the local population and contributes to linking territories with nearby circumstances. For this preservation to take place in a compatible way, it is essential to provide owners with alternative techniques to the use of generic industrial materials which, like hollow brick or cement, do not correspond to the nature and character of traditional buildings. In this sense, the work of local craftsmen who are knowledgeable about traditional building techniques is key to bridging the gap between conservation theory and their day-to-day reality.

The work previously carried out in zone 1 has allowed the extensive study of the construction techniques present in the local traditional architecture, the analysis of the dynamics of intervention that affect it and the identification of craftsmen and construction professionals present in the area. The results have made it possible to identify a series of needs and opportunities:

  • In general, there is a low appreciation of traditional architecture and a general lack of knowledge of traditional building techniques. This often leads to the systematic elimination of historical elements and their replacement by industrialised solutions that are often hidden behind a stereotypical rustic finish.
  • At the start of projects, developers are often unaware of urban planning regulations and current heritage legislation, as well as the architectural requirements established by the administration to obtain a certificate of occupancy in the case of dwellings or an opening licence in the case of businesses.
  • There are recurrent prejudices that favour replacement over repair and claim that restoring a building is more expensive than renovating it. This belief has little basis in fact, as the higher unit cost of restoration work is usually compensated by a smaller volume of work.

Based on the research and diagnostic work carried out to date, this project aims to develop tools and implement a programme of training and awareness-raising actions to help address the needs identified. In doing so, it aims to meet the following general objectives:

  1. To contribute to the valuation of traditional architecture in the area of influence of Aragonese Mudejar art, promoting the perception of the construction techniques present as solvent and sustainable systems, and of the buildings constructed with them as a valuable cultural heritage that must be preserved and protected.
  2. To highlight the work of construction craftsmen and contribute to an increase in the demand for craft trades, in order to facilitate the survival of the local construction culture and encourage the use of traditional construction techniques in interventions on the vernacular heritage.
  3. To promote the conservation, restoration and compatible rehabilitation of traditional architecture and encourage the regeneration of rural areas through their heritage, proposing alternative uses beyond the tourist sector and offering tools that allow the development of interventions that are compatible and respectful of the local cultural identity.

On the basis of these general objectives, it is possible to propose a series of specific objectives that this work aims to achieve:

  1. Helping developers to improve the compatibility of interventions in traditional architecture by developing accessible and user-friendly tools and offering personalised technical advice.
  2. Encourage the supply and demand of traditional trades, making visible the virtues and the real cost of these techniques and contributing to the formation of a professional network of territorial scope. Vernacular architecture in the Mudejar villages in the south of Zaragoza: Tools and networks for adaptive re-use and compatible intervention.
  3. Improve local communities’ knowledge of the area’s traditional architecture and reduce the perception of its conservation as wasteful. This objective will be developed through direct and indirect actions of dissemination and social participation.
  4. To project the vernacular heritage of the region and generate connections with other territories, making this traditional architecture visible and sharing experiences and resources with regions with similar problems.

LINE OF RESEARCH: Mudejar territory and cultural landscape; cultural heritage management.

AUTHORS: F. Javier Gómez Patrocinio Laura Villacampa Crespo

More information at: www.estancias2020mudetrad.territoriomudejar.es

International conference: culture, territory and heritage

    Territorio Mudéjar has participated in the international conference on Culture, Territory and Politics organised by the research group Observatorio Aragonés de Arte en la Esfera Pública and the City Council of Graus. It also has the support of the Institute of Heritage and Humanities and the Vice-rectorate of Academic Policy of the University of Zaragoza.

    In this meeting, held online, national and international speakers analysed the role of institutions in heritage management, the reality of heritage in rural areas and its implication in the landscape and the territory.

    They also reflected on the different ways in which we interact with heritage: from destruction to rehabilitation and its use as a revitalising resource.

    Territorio Mudéjar took part in this discussion forum of interest to researchers, managers, teachers and students of disciplines related to heritage management. We spoke on the subject of “Heritage in rural areas: uses, proposals, possibilities and realities”. Specifically, the director of Territorio Mudéjar, Victoria Trasobares, spoke about the management of UNESCO World Heritage in rural areas and detailed how the Territorio Mudéjar network works to build a new model from the local reality.

    The presentation focused on research and on projects linked to UNESCO World Heritage, the cultural and historical-artistic heritage management and territorial development strategies based on culture.

    What a pleasure to share good practices with heritage professionals!

    Territorio Mudéjar approves its 2021 programme of activities keeping the 20th anniversary of the declaration of World Heritage in mind

    Would you like to work with educational materials related to the Mudejar identity of the villages in the classroom? Do you understand the heritage space as an innovative learning space?

    In the coming weeks the first action of the project “Rural school in motion” (Circular desde la escuela rural) will begin, an introductory course to the project in which Territorio Mudéjar offers to those interested in linking education, heritage and innovation to know the starting point and the methodology with which it will work until mid 2022 together with seven of the local development groups in the province of Zaragoza coordinated by the ADRI Calatayud Aranda group.

    “Rural school in motion” is a cooperation project between rural development groups coordinated by the ADRI Calatayud-Aranda group, together with Cedemar, Adefo Cinco Villas, Asomo Moncayo, Adrae Comarca Alta del Ebro, Fedivalca y Adri Jiloca Gallocanta, and financed by the Government of Aragon through the Leader programme and the Provincial Government of Zaragoza through the Territorio Mudéjar association, as a private collaborating entity that manages the implementation and execution of the initiative.

    The aim is to develop educational materials related to the Mudejar identity of the villages, placing rural schools and the educational community of the villages at the centre of the project, with a triple purpose:

    ◾️To work on the introduction of the Mudejar heritage identity in the work programmes of schools beyond the artistic or complementary areas.

    ◾️To involve the educational community in the valuation of Mudejar heritage as part of their personal history, which favours the knowledge, conservation and dissemination of the identity of the towns.

    ◾️To use the work carried out in schools as material for dissemination and tourist use on the Mudejar heritage of the villages for family and children audiences.

    🔺 In the COURSE we will explain the working methodology and the results of the pilot project that was carried out in the CRA Vicort Isuela during the 2018-2019 academic year and which is the starting point for the implementation of the project in the schools of the villages of Territorio Mudéjar.

    It will be taught by Laura Castejón and Víctor Gumiel, teachers who carried out the design and testing of the pilot project, and Victoria E. Trasobares, director of Territorio Mudéjar who has extensive experience in the management and implementation of Mudejar heritage management projects in rural areas. The Department of Education has included it as an approved course in its catalogue of ongoing teacher training activities and recognises the training hours.

    The course will be carried out on-line through the entity’s digital work platform that we will set up for the specific training.

    Information about the course: https://mcusercontent.com/395a3a370852ce9982369da41/files/c70fb223-f20d-4813-be10-3e7c3b7c3597/CURSO_CIRCULAR.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2ih0BoCjstPS3ueZ4pTuAGNtXDsPSmKjdEUOQ2s-Zd8UkRFONZ-xijwE4

    Application for registration: Option 1: If you have a digital certificate or signature

    Information about the project: https://doceo.catedu.es/epgfp/portada

    If you have any doubts or you want to consult us about any particular issue you can call us on 876 634 125 or write an email to info@territoriomudejar.es