Creative Journeys & Explorations of the Natural World
Who We Are
Curious Pilgrims is an award-winning not-for-profit organisation based in The Shetland Islands, Scotland’s most northerly group of isles located at 60º N and shaped by the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea. Inspired by Shetland and its people, Curious Pilgrims is a platform through which our community, Shetland residents and anyone with an interest in this region of the world, can connect through the arts and the natural world to improve physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, and ultimately, to contribute towards improving or sustaining the quality of life of our community.
Renzo & Gaby
Co-Founders & Co-Directors
In 2018 we travelled to Shetland to glean audio and video field recordings for a multimedia arts project that focussed on Renzo's personal artistic responses to the particular atmospheres that Shetland embodies, and his presence within them. We both spent long hours outdoors in various areas of the isles, immersing ourselves in Shetland’s ‘rawness’ and being inspired by its landscape and the people.
One year later, Shetland became our permanent home, and we started our new, exciting journey as Curious Pilgrims.
Renzo Spiteri is a multi-percussion player, sound/multimedia artist, field recordist, composer and arts collaborator who has been active in the international arts circuit as a creative practitioner for over thirty years, collaborating as well as leading his own projects. He is passionate about creating and collaborating with fellow musicians and arts practitioners across diverse artistic genres, including contemporary dance, film, literature and visual arts.
As a sound artist, Renzo uses the sonic environment of the natural world around him as a primary source of raw material to bring about a deeper sensorial engagement between listeners/audiences, the natural environment and his work. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Sound Arts from Oxford Brookes University.
Gaby Giacchino
Gaby Giacchino is a freelance arts project manager and community pharmacist with a particular interest in holistic wellbeing and community engagement. She has an inquisitive nature and an entrepreneurial spirit, with a passion for the arts, the natural world and the outdoors.
Throughout the years she has applied her wide-ranging skills to initiate creative collaborations and has assisted arts practitioners with management, digital communications, fundraising and marketing. She holds a Master degree in Knowledge-Based Entrepreneurship and a professional diploma in digital marketing.
What We Do
Curious Pilgrims adopts a community-centric approach to reach out to people, promoting increased community spirit, engagement and interaction. We collaborate with other creative practitioners, nature enthusiasts and organisations to initiate and produce a wide-range of artistic, cultural, educational and natural world/environment related projects, events and activities, all designed to provide opportunities for public engagement and participation.
Have a read through our projects to learn more about what we do and how we work to support our community and bring about positive wellbeing.
And please do get in touch with us!
Culture & The Arts
Natural World & Environment
