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Turing Scheme – Making traditional garments in Valencia
Friday, 13 December, 2024 — Featuring firecrackers, mountains and unique garments, in this interview we speak to BA (Hons) Costume Production student Francesca Owens, who recently returned from an enriching study experience in Spain, made possible through the Turing Scheme.
<p dir="ltr">Featuring firecrackers, mountains and unique garments, in this interview we speak to <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-costume-production">BA (Hons) Costume Production</a> student Francesca Owens, who recently returned from an enriching study experience in Spain, made possible through the <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/international/turing-scheme">Turing Scheme.</a> </p>
<p dir="ltr">The scheme is available to eligible Arts University Students and helps to expand their horizons through international travel and professional experiences, supported by UK government funding. Francesca shares her experience below. <br /></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>1) Where did you go using the Turing Scheme and why did you pick that place?</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">I went to Valencia, Spain and I chose to go because the city is a creative hub and has lots of rich history and culture. For example bullfighting and lots of traditional festivals, such as Fallas, which takes place to celebrate the arrival of spring and pay tribute to the patron saint of carpenters San José. This is done by building and then burning the Fallas, which are monuments made of cardboard, paper and wood. It's also accompanied by parades and firecrackers being set off outside the Valencia city hall everyday from 1 March to 19 March. <br /></p>

Francesca Owens
<p dir="ltr">The company I worked for, <a href="https://www.alvaromoliner.com/">Alvero Moliner</a>, has been making the garments worn at this festival for over 80 years. They were founded in 1939 and are at the forefront of traditional clothing making. These traditional clothing are unique to this region of Spain and are found nowhere else in the world as far as I know. </p>
<p dir="ltr">I was also drawn to Valencia because of the geography and the city and architecture. There are mountains, the sea and the sprawling city with so many diverse and distinct neighbourhoods. For instance, Ruzafa and Ciutat Vella which is close to where I worked and my walk to and from work took me past the Metropolitan Cathedral–Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady of Valencia, which is this beautiful building with amazing religious art and is said to contain the most widely recognised holy grail.<br /></p>

Work by Francesca Owens
<p dir="ltr"><strong>2) What have been your favourite experiences from your time on the Turing Scheme?</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">My favourite was probably going to the beach almost everyday. I would walk home, drop off my work bag and pick up my swim bag and walk down to the beach.</p>
<p dir="ltr">One time I walked down before the sun had come up and I walked the whole way with only the sound of cicadas and sat on the beach and looked at the stars until the sun had come up enough to swim. I was lucky enough to witness the most beautiful sunrise of my life, all while swimming and floating in the ocean. It was so incredible, breathtaking and I still think about it all the time.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>3) What have you gained professionally from your experience?</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">In terms of my professional experience it helped me greatly. It gave me new practical skills and also gave me the space to hone the skills I already had as well as letting me learn and develop my industry-based etiquettes and learn more hands-on about my industry.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>4) Can you share how your Turing experience relates to your course at Arts University Plymouth?</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">I worked on traditional garment making, which directly links to my degree, as I am doing <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-costume-production">BA (Hons) Costume Production</a>. It also links to my eventual move towards working in textile conservation later in my career. The processes and techniques I was using have been used over 80 years, as the tradition of Fallas is even older. So it gave me an insight to the application of costume and how we get taught a ‘toolbox’ of skills that really can be applied to any project or problem.<br /></p>
Unforgettable, inspiring and challenging.
BA (Hons) Costume Production student Francesca Owens
<p dir="ltr"><strong>5) Do you think schemes like the Turing Scheme are important for personal or professional development?</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">I think this program is enormously beneficial for personal and professional development. It can help to level the playing field for those from low income backgrounds who wouldn't be able to afford to have these kinds of door-opening opportunities, that otherwise would only be available to those with financial privileges. <br /></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>6) What other experiences stand out during your time at Arts University Plymouth?</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">My end of first year show, <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/posts/costume-students-bring-dartmoor-folklore-to-life">Dartmoor Folklore</a>, was definitely something that stood out, as it gave me a chance to work with my fellow costume students to show off all the amazing work we all do.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Another was also from last year when <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/posts/meet-costume-embroiderer-michele-carragher">Michele Carragher</a> (best known for her work on Game of Thrones, The Crown and Peaky Blinders) came into uni to talk about her embroidery. It was so inspiring and her work is just incredible. </p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>7) If you had to sum up your Turing experience in three words, what would they be?</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">Unforgettable, inspiring and challenging.<br /></p>