Iria Arenas
Movement Performance Visual Arts

Education




Other
2024-ongoing. MA in Visual Cultures, Curating and Contemporary Art. Aalto University, Espoo (FI).
2017-18. Postgraduate in Performance Research Studies. SOZO vim. Kassel (DE).
2016-17. MA in Theatre and Performing Arts. Complutense University of Madrid. Madrid (ES).
2010-14. BA in Visual Arts and Contemporary Dance. Rey Juan Carlos University. Madrid (ES).

2023. An Introduction to Trans Studies - Open Course. Åbo Akademi University. Turku (FI).
​2021-22. Developing an Artistic Research Project - Open Course. Stockholm University of the Arts (SE).

Work Experience2023-ongoing. Teacher. Hip Hop and House Dance. Saiffa - Flow Mo Dance School. Helsinki (FI).
2023-24. Theater Technician Assistant. Zodiak - Centre of New dance. Helsinki (FI).
2020-23. Teacher. Introduction to Stage Lighting and Web Development. SOZO vim. Kassel (DE).
2020-23. Website Designer and Social Media Coordinator. Tanzwerk Kassel e.V. Kassel (DE).
2020-21. Office Assistant/Coordinator. Tanzwerk Kassel e.V. Kassel (DE).

Grants2024. City of Espoo Culture Committee. (Grant cancelled due to health reasons)
2024. Goethe Institut. Culture Moves Europe. Individual Mobility Grant.
2023. Kulturförderung Kulturamt Kassel.
2023 Fonds Darstellende Künste. NEUSTART KULTUR. #TakeHeart Rechercheförderung.
2022. NATIONALES PERFORMANCE NETZ - STEPPING OUT.
2022. Kulturförderung Kulturamt Kassel.
2021. Goethe Institut - Nachwuchsförderung.
2021. Brückenstipendien - Hessische Kulturstiftung
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2021. Kulturförderung Kulturamt Kassel.
2021. Hessische Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst.
2020. Kulturförderung Kulturamt Kassel.
2018. AC/E Programme for the Internationalisation of Spanish Culture (PICE).

Residencies2024. Sonnenstein Loft. Linz (AT).
2022. ON DISPLAY. Lake Studios Berlin (DE).
2021. Studio Practice and Artistic Process. Stockholm University of the Arts (SE).
2018. Atelier Real (REAT). Lisbon (PT).
2017. Oulu Dance Hack. Oulu (FI).
2016. DOCH Summer Residency. Stockholm (SE).

Lighting Design2024. NEFES & Global Music Master’s Transcultural Ensemble. Vapaan Taiteen Tila. Helsinki (FI).
2023. Zipora and Friends. Sibelius Academy. Kalliosali. Helsinki (FI).
2023. STREAMS #4. Aura Antikainen & Niv Melamed. Halle 2. Kassel (DE).
2023. Sie starb und sie lebte. Rosalie Kubny. Kulturhaus Dock 4. Kassel (DE).
2022. DIE FLACHE ERDE. Lauren Rae Mace. Kulturhaus Dock 4. Kassel (DE).
2022. Silken Veil. C/O Mareike Steffens. Kulturhaus Dock 4. Kassel (DE).
2021. Visitors. arenas&antikainen. Kulturhaus Dock 4. Kassel, Germany (DE).
2021. EPILOGUE. Deborah Smith-Wicke. Halle 2. Kassel (DE).
2021. Could you stay for tea?. Aura Antikainen. Kulturhaus Dock 4. Kassel (DE).
2021. Body of land. TANZWERKE '21. Aura Antikainen. Kulturhaus Dock 4. Kassel (DE).
2021. Protrahere. Deborah Smith-Wicke. Halle 2. Kassel (DE).
2020. Rock, water, spell. C/O Mareike Steffens. Kulturhaus Dock 4. Kassel (DE).
2019.  Choreografische Werkstatt, Staatstheater. Kassel (DE).

Dance / Performance









Guest Dancer / Performer
2024. Red Bull Dance Your Style, Helsinki (FI).
2024. Tanssivirtaa Tampereella. check your body at the door. Hällä-näyttämö. Tampere (FI).
2023. Kulturhaus Dock4. check your body at the door. Kassel (DE).
2021. Stockholm Fringe Festival. anverso. Stockholm (SE).
2021. Gothenburg Fringe Festival. anverso. Gothenburg (SE).
2021. Galeria Kollektiva. late for laundry, again. Kassel, (DE).
2019. Oops Festival. anverso. Brighton (UK).
2018. RandFilm Festival. anverso. Kassel (DE).
2017. Stockholm Fringe Festival. Wortenlust. Stockholm (SE).
2017. OT301 Highs and Lows #22. Wortenlust. Amsterdam (NT).

2019. Theater Spektakel. Terrain. Boris Charmatz. Zurich (CH).
2019. Staatstheater Kassel. Ares (statisten). Johannes Wieland. Kassel (DE).
2016-17. Reflections: Triple Bill. Body Politic Dance Company. Oxford (UK).
2017. Dancers. Coproducción Sonia Gómez + CORPO A TERRA. Ourense (ES).

Installation2022. Violett Kunstgalerie. anverso. Body Tales. Kassel (DE).
2022. tonwerkstatt kassel. anverso. Kassel (DE).
2022. Pilotenkueche. anverso. Moving surreal curiosity. Leipzig (DE).
2022. 4bid Gallery. anverso. Amsterdam (NL).
2022. CreativQuartier Fürst Leopold. anverso. Dorsten (DE).

Video2023. Festival Antigone. anverso. Centre Culturel d'Uccle . Brussels (BE).
2022. Tanzhaus Temporär Nº1. anverso. Berpark. Kassel (DE).
2022. LAKE Studios Berlin. anverso. ON DISPLAY Screening. Berlin (DE).
2022. Staatstheater Kassel. anverso. Queeres Kurzfilmkino im TiF. Kassel (DE).
2020. United Cowboys. anverso. Seasoning Summer. Eindhoven (NT).
2019. NB Film Festival. anverso. Puebla, Mexico and Texas (US). 
2019. VideoSkin Festival. anverso. Ontario (CA).
2019. SzoloDuo Festival. anverso. Ork_Kota_Platform. Budapest (HU).

©Iria Arenas 2024
What’s New


Activist Art Today - Workshop

What role can activist art play in shaping social and political change today? This workshop explores how the affective potential of art can lead to more effective forms of activism and how its impact might be measured. Together, we’ll reflect on the challenges activists and artists face in today’s political climate and explore strategies for resistance and expression through both theory and practice. 
17.5.25 - The Action Weekend, Oulu, FI

More info:
www.dodo.org



Super Supper - Public Programme

Super Supper explores how a prolonged family dinner can form an artificial framework for a public programme. An admixture of dramaturgically annexed elements, such as talks, screenings and various disruptions interrupt the pseudo-coherence of an extended family; unity needs an intermission as its counterpart, TV gives you the needed break. Humans form a dysfunctional family, which might not build on a mutual agreement but still holds a latent caring for each other. The lack of energy to meet is often replaced by a maximalized moment where everything and everyone are brought and forced into a shared table.
With Contributions by Harold Hejazi, Kemê, Jani Anders Purhonen, Niklas Toivakainen, Yuko Takeda and Timo Teern. Curated by: Aalto Vicca

9.5.25 - Museum of Impossible Forms, Helsinki, FI

More info:
@aaltovicca



A4CT - Online platform

A4CT (Artivism for Critical Thinking) is an online platform that unites artists from around the world to examine how art serves as a critical lens on contemporary issues and a powerful tool for activism and self-expression. Dedicated to fostering cross-cultural dialogue, A4CT supports artists whose work challenges societal norms, addresses pressing issues, and inspires action for social change and cultural disruption. By connecting communities and celebrating diverse forms of artistic expression, we create a shared space to confront complex social, political, and cultural dynamics, while promoting understanding, dialogue, and collective growth.


Outside the online sphere, A4CT hopes to exist as a borderless space for intercultural and transformative dialogue(s) that can take many forms. Physically situated in the growing city of Helsinki, we understand the need for a common space where those with a mutual interest in sharing, listening, and reflecting can gather—a place with the capacity for compassion for unheard (and often silenced) voices, perspectives, and each other.

More info: 
@artivism4ct
https://artivism4ct.cargo.site/