A free educational initiative that links theatre with the municipality’s schools and brings children and young people closer to stage creation.
This October, the Canal Centre d’Arts Escèniques — El Canal de Salt launched the project “Primera Residència”: an immersion into the spaces and professions of the performing arts aimed at pupils in middle Primary and the second cycle of ESO.
The initiative, free of charge, runs through December and has been warmly received by the educational community.
What will the schools do?
The visit combines:
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A participatory tour of El Canal’s usually hidden spaces (dressing rooms, rehearsal room, technical booth…).
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A hands-on creation workshop led by the 2024 artist-in-residence, Sonia Gardés (specialist in visual theatre and contemporary puppetry).
Before arriving at El Canal, students work in class with audiovisual materials and teaching proposals. The guiding thread is Irina, a puppet created by Gardés: a former worker at the Coma Cros textile factory who returns to the building and discovers a performing-arts creation centre. At the venue, students meet Irina in person and take part with her in an object-theatre workshop.
Educational objectives
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Discover the professions and the technical and creative processes that make a show possible.
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Build specific vocabulary related to the performing arts.
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Spark curiosity, critical thinking, and respect for artistic work.
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Make theatre a close, tangible, and transformative experience.
Figures for this first edition
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32 class groups from 14 schools in Salt.
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643 students and 66 accompanying teachers.
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Calendar: October–December.
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Free activity.
Voices of the project
“With this project, El Canal becomes a first-rate educational tool and a space of discovery for the children and young people of our municipality.” — Jordi Viñas, Mayor of Salt.
“We want students to experience theatre and understand how it is built: to perceive it as close, viable and transformative.” — Xavi Díaz, Managing Director of El Canal.
“Offering it to all the schools in the municipality strengthens culture as a tool for equity and cohesion.” — Toni Vidal, Deputy Mayor for Culture.
Institutional support
Primera Residència is a project by El Canal and the Salt City Council, with the support of the Government of Catalonia, the Girona Provincial Council and the Girona City Council.
Want to learn more or plan your school’s visit? Check the schedule and educational resources here.
