Our journey with this region in central Portugal began many moons ago. We first visited in 2017 when we hosted our first nomadic YÖRÜK residency with the magical permaculture community of Mount of Oaks. Nestled within the foothills of the Gardunha Mountain region, we found ourselves being held by the most magical and ancient landscape of elder cork oaks, mythical rock formations, tender camomile meadows, wild springs and mystical ponds. The landscape spoke to the depths of our souls, and a deep communion between this landscape and our hearts began its weaving.
 
Now, 6 residencies later and with our vessels full of its abundant story, a piece of land in the valley  has welcomed us into an  expanded vision. To rescue 24 hectares of wild land from developers who would turn it into monoculture farming, and to craft together with all its wisdom, The Rural School of Arts. A place of collective guardianship and a place of deep listening, a place to cultivate the potential of our hands and hearts, so that we can re-align ourselves with what is important. So that we can come to remember our purpose, and ourselves as mystic, mythical and primal beings, as a sacred ecosystem between human and non human realms. 

VISIT OUR CROWDFUNDER 
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This school will include a dreaming house and sustainably built spaces, nestled within the ancient forests, and most importantly, this school will offer the wild landscape itself as the place of learning. A place to roam and reconnect with our essence, and a place to connect to a collection of practices across disciplines of architecture, cinema, clay, myth, movement, astrology, somatic practice and wild medicine. 
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From here, we will be running a beautiful collections of programs, courses and dreaming processes, including our upcoming YÖRÜK - The Circle,  a 18 month journey of 4 in person gatherings.