Cultural Heritage and Textiles Tour & Workshops

22-28 May 2025 / 12-18 June 2025 / 18-24 September 2025 /9-15 October 2025

The multicultural richness of Sălaj County, located in Transylvania, is beautifully reflected in the stitching and embroidery techniques, architecture, social customs, and the coexistence of languages spoken by its Romanian, Hungarian, and Roma inhabitants.

Following the fall of Communism in Romania in December 1989, the subsequent two decades brought significant changes to cultural practices. Many people sold, burned, or discarded traditional clothing, associating these garments with poverty and the hardships of the past. This practice has made it particularly challenging to find certain traditional items, especially men’s traditional clothing.

In 2015, my mother and I embarked on a mission to rediscover and preserve these pieces of cultural heritage. We began by curating a collection of traditional textiles and clothing, starting with items from my grandmother’s dowry. This sparked a renewed appreciation for these treasures among the local community, many elderly women who had stored their dowries in attics began to try to convince their kids and nephews to see the value of their inheritance, by treating them with greater care.

Women of all ages are now proudly wearing their traditional clothes during big religious celebrations, and some have even revived the art of stitching and embroidery. These skilled women are now teaching younger generations, ensuring that the traditional stitching and embroidery techniques continues to thrive.

I am happy to invite you to my village to learn more about our culture. Throughout the trip, we will explore traditional textiles, embroidery, wooden churches, traditional houses and dowry rooms that tell personal life stories. You’ll also discover the charm of the county’s iconic tiny blue cottages, savor delicious local cuisine, and visit centuries-old painted wooden churches that serve as monuments to the region’s deep cultural roots.

I will introduce you to the places and people that hold special meaning for me. You will meet local elders—women eager to share their life stories and traditions, invite you into their homes, and show you their treasured textiles and dowry chests. These encounters will be immersive experiences, where you will have the opportunity to participate in hands-on workshops, learning traditional embroidery and stitching techniques.

A special highlight will be our visit to several wooden churches, many of which date back centuries. We will be accompanied by a local guide and professor, who will provide insights into the history and cultural significance of these sacred places. These churches are not only architectural marvels but also repositories of collective memory. Although no longer in use, these churches continue to serve as an important link between past and present.

Hands-on Embroidery Workshops

Previous participants in this tour have greatly appreciated the hands-on nature of the activities, especially the practical aspects of the workshops. Based on their feedback, I have decided to dedicate an entire day to sewing and embroidery workshops. You’ll have the chance to learn directly from skilled artisans and take home the knowledge of these traditional techniques.

A Personal Experience

This tour is designed to foster genuine connections between you and the local community. I believe that meaningful travel is not about the number of places you visit, but about the depth of your experiences. To ensure that each participant has a truly personalized experience, I am offering only three spots on this tour. The small group size will allow us to connect more deeply with one another and the people we meet along the way.

I’m excited to share this journey with you and look forward to welcoming you to my village. Please don’t hesitate to contact me for further details.

Accommodation & Dining

For most of the tour, you will stay in a beautifully restored traditional house built in 1903. Renovated in 2015, the house is adorned with textiles and furniture from my grandmother’s dowry, creating a cozy, nostalgic atmosphere. Each morning, we will gather in the kitchen to prepare breakfast together, using fresh, local ingredients sourced from the village market or nearby farms. For lunch and dinner, we’ll be treated to traditional meals prepared by the socăcițe, skilled local women known for their ability to cook large quantities of food for weddings, funerals, and other important events. Their dishes will give you a true taste of Sălaj’s rich culinary heritage.

1 / SCHEDULE - 22-28 May 2025 / 18-24 September 2025 -

Day 1:

• We will meet in Cluj-Napoca and travel together to Sălaj

• Walk in the village

• Welcome dinner with traditional live music

Day 2:

• Presentation of the local traditional costume and crafts

• Visit our ethnographic collection

• Visit the women in the village, their dowry rooms and personal textiles collections

Day 3:

• Stitching workshop

• Traditional embroidery workshop

• Embroidery on sheepskin workshop

Day 4:

• Visit three wooden churches in Sălaj County

• Visit a reformed church with coffed ceiling

Day 5:

• Visit an etnographic collection of textiles

• Visit a personal textiles collection and a traditional blue house

• Weaving demonstration

Day 6:

• Visit the multicultural local market

• Baking together a traditional cheese and herbs bread, guided by my grandmother

• Ceramic decoration workshop

Day 7:

• Slow morning in the garden and library

• Visit a Hungarian dowry room from Țara Călatei (Kalotaszeg)

• Return to Cluj-Napoca

2 / SCHEDULE - 12-18 June 2025 / 9-15 October 2025

Day 1:

• We will meet in Cluj-Napoca and travel together to Sălaj

• Presentation of the local traditional costume and crafts

• Visit our ethnographic collection

• Welcome dinner with traditional live music

Day 2:

• Visit a woman from the village to show us her dowry chest and textiles

• Visit Negreni / Feketău antique & flea market

Day 3:

• Stitching workshop

• Traditional embroidery workshop

• Embroidery on sheepskin workshop

Day 4:

• Visit three wooden churches in Sălaj County

• Visit a reformed church with coffed ceiling

Day 5:

• Visit an ethnographic collection of textiles

• Visit a personal textiles collection and a traditional blue house

• Weaving demonstration

Day 6:

• Visit the multicultural local market

• Baking together a traditional cheese and herbs bread, guided by my grandmother

• Ceramic decoration workshop

Day 7:

• Slow morning in the garden and library

• Visit a Hungarian dowry room from Țara Călatei (Kalotaszeg)

• Return to Cluj-Napoca

What We Offer

• Accommodation for the entire trip

• Transport during the 6 days

• Two traditional meals/day, including ingredients for breakfast

• Workshop materials

• A local guide

• Access to our library and workspace

Not included:

• Transport to & from Cluj-Napoca before and after the tour

• Travel & health insurance

• Shipping of the ceramic item resulting the workshop (aprox. 2-4 weeks after)

Dates:

• 22-28 May 2025

• 12-18 June 2025

• 18-24 September 2025

• 9-15 October 2025

Your contribution:
€1600 per person - single room

€1500 per person - double room

Accommodation Details:

• Stay in a 120-year-old traditional house in Marin, Sălaj

• 1 room with a double bed 

• 1 room with 2 single beds

• Shared kitchen and bathroom with the three-person group

To register, please fill in THIS FORM

For more details, please don’t hesitate to write us: office.madeinsat@gmail.com

Open Call for International Artist Residency in Rural Romania / 2025
Deadline for Applications: 21 February 2025
Residency Duration: 1 Month - July / August 2025

About the Residency
The residency is located in the beautiful village of Marin, in Salaj County, known for its rich engagement of the local community in cultural and folk activities. This program invites artists to explore the rural life in an interethnic community, together with Romanians, Hungarians an Roma inhabitants.

The residency is designed to provide a peaceful and inspiring setting for creative work, allowing artists to focus on their projects. We believe that the absence of heavy tourism in the area allows artists to truly connect with the locals and we encourage artists to explore the intersection of their practice with the Romanian rural context, while offering the possibility of collaborations with the local community and craftspeople.

Residency Details

• Available Residency Periods:

• Period 1: July 2025

• Period 2: August 2025

• Duration: 1 Month

• Location: Marin village, Salaj County, Romania

• Accommodation: Private housing in a traditional Romanian village house

• Studio Space: Dedicated workspace and a library suitable for visual artists, writers, researchers, photographers, painters, ceramists and illustrators

Community Engagement:

• The residency offers the opportunity to meet and collaborate with local people, creating relationships with the community.

• Artists will have the option to participate in community-focused activities, such as sharing their knowledge through informal workshops, talks, or presentations.

• Artists are encouraged to engage with locals, whether through creative collaborations or social exchanges.

• At the end of your residency, you may choose to host a final event or exhibition to share your work with the local community. This could take the form of a presentation, a public exhibition, or another form of expression.

What We Offer

• Accommodation: A private room in a traditional Romanian house, offering a peaceful place to live and work.

• Studio Space: A dedicated workspace located within a shared library building, providing both the physical space to work and the intellectual resources to inspire you.

• Community Connections: We will help introduce you to local people and groups who can contribute or help to your process.

• Option for Workshop: If desired, you are encouraged to offer a workshop or creative activity for the locals during your residency. This is entirely optional but a great way to interact with the community and share your artistic knowledge.

• Promotion through social media

Contribution of the Artist:

• Travel expenses

• Health insurance

• Materials, supplies

• Food (however, we will facilitate connections with local families who may offer home-cooked meals at an additional cost)

• Local transport

• 800 euros/ person / month

Who Can Apply
We welcome applications from writers, researchers, photographers, painters, ceramists and illustrators who are interested in working in a rural setting.

How to Apply
Interested applicants should submit the following documents:

1. Project Proposal (max. 500 words): Describe the project you plan to develop during your residency.

2. Portfolio (max. 10 images or 3 samples of your work)

3. CV/Resume (max. 2 pages): Include your artistic background and relevant experience.

4. Web/social media page - optional

All applications must be submitted to office.madeinsat@gmail.com by 21 February 2025:

Selection Criteria
Applications will be reviewed based on the following criteria:

• Originality and feasibility of the proposed project

• Applicability to the rural context

• Social/cultural dimension of the project is considered a advantage, but is optional.

For any inquiries, please contact us at office.madeinsat@gmail.com

Past residencies:

• Sofia Nelega, documentary filmmaker - Scene din vârste diferite

• Bogdan Cosa, writer, author

  De la croitoreasă la porcăreasă și de la badantă la funcționar public:

  https://www.dor.ro/de-la-croitoreasa-la-porcareasa-la-badanta/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0hPJ9ktgvy0EZA_8FTFH5NzL7LeePvDaxC-3KgVpnph7suzKOjslf30wU_aem_FYauUWRBwfSwIlfEfhCHOA

  About Bogdan Cosa’s residency

  https://artisti.muzeuzalau.ro/2022/10/10/bogdan-cosa-daca-pe-timp-de-zi-marinul-parea-un-sat-ca-oricare-altul-cand-s-a-lasat-noaptea-am-avut-impresia-ca-sunt-intr-o-padure-tropicala/