Paul Urtasun

Basque country, a region straddling the Spanish–French border, is the site of a decades-long conflict. Basque culture is highly politicized, as the population has long suffered from oppression, sectarian conflict, and, more recently, global cultural homogenization. Acting on my belief in the transformative power of art and the integral role of artists in sustaining culture, I created Etxeto, a proposal for the conversion of an abandoned caserio (traditional Basque farmhouse) in the French Basque country into a multidisciplinary artists' residency. Several times a year, groups of up to five up-and-coming artists from around the world will be invited to stay in Etxeto (the name means "small house"), where they will be able to produce and exhibit work inspired by the Basque country and its people, culture, and traditions.