Study day on the role of performing arts festivals

Regione Toscana and Fondazione Fabbrica Europa per le arti contemporanee promote a day of study on the situation of the performing arts festivals in the current panorama of the Italian system. A reflection on what impact the “festival” cultural operation has and will have in the future on the social fabric and the territories involved. A moment of deepening and exchange between Institutions and cultural operators on the role, functions and identities of the Festivals, which, starting from the recent reorganization choices that have affected the sector, seem to suffer from a crisis and a downward trend.
In the cultural landscape, the new situation we are facing force us to find answers to questions about the causal link between decrease of resources and reduction of the artistic proposals.
What is a contemporary festival? What are its main features? What is an international festival? What are the most pressing issues today in relation to the territories, the public, the community of artists, the performing arts system as a whole?

Programme

10:00 – 13:00

Welcome and opening speeches

Monica Barni – Vice-president and Councillor for Culture, Regione Toscana
Carolina Taddei – Councillor for Culture, Municipality of San Gimignano
Tuccio Guicciardini – Fondazione Fabbrica Europa President

Speeches

Roberta Ferraresi – Critic and researcher
At the roots of the festival form in Italy. Historical samplings to question the present

Rodolfo Sacchettini – Critic and researcher
To make a festival it takes …
Needs, contradictions, energies at the time of the crisis

Frie Leysen – International Festivals director and researcher
International festivals in Europe and beyond

Marilisa Amante – Performing Arts General Direction, Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities

15:00 – 18:30
Afternoon session

The afternoon session is divided into three discussion round tables starting from the speeches of Roberta Ferraresi, Rodolfo Sacchettini and Frie Leysen and some keywords. Participants will be asked to share their own reflections with the aim of formulating proposals and indications on possible future scenarios, in particular with regard to the relation with public bodies. Speeches and reports of the round tables discussions will be published online and in a booklet.

15:00 – 17:00
Discussion round table
At the roots of the festival form in Italy. Historical samplings to question the present
Keywords: territoriality/extraterritoriality, creation/distribution, temporary/permanent communities, systems of relationships/identity

15:00 – 17:00
Discussion round table
To make a festival it takes …
What new needs, contradictions and energies at the time of the crisis?
Keywords: production, cultural relevance, territories, new generations

15:00 – 17:00
Discussion round table
International festivals in Europe and beyond
Keywords: urgency-necessity, independent, international-beyond western cultures, contemporary creation, non pleasing, intuition

17:00 – 18.30
Round tables Reports

Closing remarks
Monica Barni – Vice-president and Councillor for Culture, Regione Toscana

Participants:

Filippo Andreatta – Drodesera, Dro
Anna Bandettini – critic
Marco Betti – Terni Festival–Festival Internazionale della creazione contemporanea
Vincenzo Brogi – Armunia Festival Costa degli Etruschi – Inequilibrio, Castiglioncello
Massimo Carosi – Danza Urbana, Bologna
Natalia Casorati – Interplay, Torino
Lanfranco Cis – Oriente Occidente, Rovereto
Davide D’Antonio – Wonderland Festival, Brescia
Giannella De Muro – Time in Jazz, Berchidda
Franco D’Ippolito – Teatro Metastasio, Prato
Edoardo Donatini – Contemporanea Festival, Prato
Roberta Ferraresi – lecturer
Angela Fumarola – Armunia Festival Costa degli Etruschi – Inequilibrio, Castiglioncello
Frie Leysen, lecturer, Brussels
Cesare Mancini – Chigiana International Festival, Siena
Paolo Manfrini – Oriente Occidente, Rovereto
Dominique Martin – NID Platform
Fabio Masi – Armunia Festival Costa degli Etruschi – Inequilibrio, Castiglioncello
Andrea Nanni – critic
Eva Neklyaeva – Santarcangelo Festival, Santarcangelo di Romagna
Chiara Organtini – Terni Festival–Festival Internazionale della creazione contemporanea
Velia Papa – Inteatro Festival, Poverigi, Ancona
Settimio Pisano – Primavera dei Teatri, Castrovillari
Barbara Regondi – Vie Festival, Modena
Luca Ricci – Kilowatt Festival, Sansepolcro
Rodolfo Sacchettini – lecturer
Monica Sartini – Santarcangelo Festival, Santarcangelo di Romagna
Salvatore Sofia – Trasparenze Festival, Modena
Walter Spelgatti – Wonderland Festival, Brescia
Stefano Tè – Trasparenze Festival, Modena