Bustan Ibleo Residency

#Oooh-Festival of improvisational music and art spreads its spirit and agency internationally, across a wide range of locations. Founded in 2013, it has held events in London, Amsterdam, Berlin, Istanbul, St. Petersburg, and other cities.

Since 2017, we have been enjoying a summer residency on the bank of a small mountain stream in the enchanting ancient town of Ragusa Ibla, one of Sicily's most magical places, at the end of July.

We are currently setting up for our 2026 edition, which will take place from 16th to 19th of July, so the applications from performers and projects related to free improvisation are very welcome.

Our festival is artist-led and created entirely through the endeavors of its participants, so we would encourage you to arrive a few days early to help prepare the space for a collective artistic journey. The event cannot take place without the active engagement of its attendees.

You can submit your project with links and info background to: ooohfest@gmail.com

FAQ

#Oooh_festival offers this unique collaborative project as a platform for artists of all nationalities, focusing on our common intention: giving Free-Improv the place it deserves as a global musical language.

During a festival, all artists perform in at least 2 sets each evening and are invited to propose and run an additional daytime workshop, which will be offered to all event participants. The organising team will arrange a suitable workspace and promote the workshop as part of the festival program.

Each evening set lasts from 5 to 15 minutes and contains from 2 to 5 musicians who are chosen spontaneously before each set blindly, using a hat.

Please note that Oooh festival is an artist-run event that hosts artists from all over the world without ANY funding, budget, or commercial benefit, so we are unable to pay travel expenses or other fees to participants. Oooh fest offers a co-creative space free from the logic of war and capital.

The Bustan Ibleo edition of the Oooh Improv festival is a camping event held at the private space of one of us. We recommend bringing a tent for a more comfortable stay.

There's no electricity - we turn on a power-generating station for nights only. Therefore, we recommend having your energy storage or power banks if you need them.

Food: an amazing Sicilian cuisine prepared by our magnificent hostess on her own with your donations.

Stay free!

Hope to hear you there!