Between August 21–24, 2025, in Bechet, Dolj County, the Sandwich Association organized the third edition of the Lubeniţa Residency – Extravaganza Days, a project that combines artistic creation, cultural exchange and community education in the rural area. Initiated in 2022, the project was carried out this year in collaboration with the Pharmakon gallery, with the support of PROFI Romania. The Lubeniţa Residency – or Watermelon Residency – continues to bring contemporary art to the rural area of southern Romania, an area where cultural actions, and especially contemporary art with a focus on the community, are far too few, although the public proves countless times its desire for knowledge and involvement in such actions.

The educational component was the focus of the edition. Approximately 25 children from Bechet participated in two three-hour creative sessions, held over two consecutive days, in collaboration with Bechet City Hall, which provided the necessary space and promoted the action among the local youth. The workshops were coordinated by artist Liliana Basarab and the STOL Collective group, proposing playful creative exercises, making masks and colorful accessories, playing and artistic improvisation. The activities encouraged self-confidence, personal expression and collaboration, transforming art into an accessible and friendly experience for the little ones, using simple materials, within everyone’s reach, encouraging participants to create such creations outside of the organized workshops.