Archivi Progetti | Fondazione AIDA

Family Theatre

In October 2024, the Family Theatre project was launched to explore and develop the potential of family theater in a European context, addressing critical challenges that have emerged in the post-pandemic era, such as educational and cultural poverty, with a particular focus on younger generations.

Through the creation and testing of an innovative theatrical format dedicated to families, the project aims to promote social inclusion, intergenerational dialogue, and educational and cultural development. Theater is conceived as a transformative tool, capable of engaging parents, children, and grandparents in high-quality artistic experiences that inspire reflection, learning, and family cohesion. Innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity are the pillars of the project. Emphasis is placed on cross-cutting themes such as gender balance, cultural diversity, and environmental sustainability, integrating them into the theatrical format and production activities. The creation of a European network of family theater professionals and the drafting of a manifesto to promote the format at an institutional level are integral parts of the strategy for disseminating and enhancing the project’s outcomes.

Family Theatre contributes to the objectives of the Creative Europe program by promoting transnational cooperation, the exchange of best practices, and the dissemination of a replicable theatrical format across different contexts. The ultimate goal is to strengthen a sense of belonging to European values through theater, fostering innovative and sustainable access to and participation in culture and education for families.

Project duration: 36 months (starting October 2024)

Partner

Are involved four partners from different European countries:

Fondazione Aida (Italia) – Project Coordinator, with experience in producing performances for children and young audiences
Dubrovnik Summer Festival (Croazia) – A cultural festival featuring educational programs and performances for young audiences
InSite Drama (Ungheria) – An organization specializing in theater education and the development of innovative methodologies
Gaiety School of Acting (Irlanda) – A national theater school with a focus on education and inclusion.

Objectives and Expected Impacts

Engage families by promoting theatrical experiences that foster intergenerational dialogue and a sense of cultural belonging.
Provide the sector with a replicable and innovative format.
Create sustainable impact through the establishment of an international network and the dissemination of best practices

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

Spiral – Structure for Inclusive Arts Learning

The project aims to develop and implement curricula dedicated to inclusive arts (theatre, dance, music and multimedia), in order to promote the creation of accessible artistic training structures.

These facilities will have clear and well-structured learning objectives, along with guidelines to ensure accessibility. The aim is to create inclusive artistic programs (inclusive artistic programmes), an innovative tool to be used in non-formal artistic learning competitions, in order to ensure high accessibility standards.

Goals

promote the recognition of disabled people as creators of art
encourage the active participation and citizenship of people with disabilities
ptimize the capabilities of the organizations involved in the project
raise awareness and promote accessibility in all its aspects
enhance and disseminate the art produced by individuals with disabilities
support entrepreneurship and initiative both among organizations and professionals in the sector
encourage the adoption of alternative and inclusive forms of communication.

Destined

The participants and recipients of the project will be people with disabilities, who will develop artistic activities.

Partnership
In addition to Italy, represented by the Aida Foundation in collaboration with ULSS 9, participating in the project:

Portugal Glocalmusic (project leader)
Hungary M.S.M.M.E. (Magyar Specialis Muveszeti Muhely Egyesulet)
Spain Fundación Uxío Novoneyra
Greece Aeroploio Theater – Ena Giapaidia Theater

(In)different Journey

Starting from the book “The Tale of the Unknown Island“ by José Saramago, Portuguese writer, Nobel Prize for Literature, in the various steps of the Indifferent Journey project we will develop new expressive methodologies to be applied in the experience of and with disabled people.

Thanks to the involvement of various professionals working in the theater sector, in the rehabilitation area and a group of people with intellectual disabilities, they will work together to develop theatrical practices and new methods of physical and sensory stimulation. These are activities that facilitate and encourage these people to assume a greater sense of belonging and usefulness in society, encourage the development of intrinsic and latent capacities; and at the same time, they affirm the right to active citizenship.

The project is supported by Erasmus +

Goals:

Develop and deepen the use of new skills and methodologies; train technicians in the artistic areas of theater, body and musical expression; train learners in the artistic areas of theater, body and musical expression; promote social inclusion; sharing good artistic practices with people with disabilities; promote entrepreneurship and pro-activity of technicians, students and organizations.

Steps:

First step of the project: September 2021 – first meeting in Hungary with all partners involved. Organizational management of the two years of the project.

Second step: October 2021 – second transnational meeting with all the partner organizers of the project in Verona. Development of theatrical techniques with professionals in the sector to experiment workshops with disabled children.

Third step: November 2021 – January 2022 – Alice Canovi, theatrical actress of the AIDA Foundation is developing theatrical and musical workshops with children suffering from autism spectrum disorders

Fourth step: February 2022 – third European meeting in France with all partner organizations and disabled children (beneficiaries of the project)

Partners:

In addition to Italy, represented by the Aida Foundation in collaboration with the Foundation “Autismo Trentino”, the following participate in the project: Glocalmusic – Portugal, (project leader), Atipick Dream – France, MSMME (Magyar Specialialis Muveszeti Muhely Egyesulet) – Hungary, SAREM (Genclikte Spor Sanat ve Egitim Dernegi) – Turkey, Teatterimuseo – Finland.

The participants and recipients of the project will be people with disabilities, who will go on to develop artistic activities, together with the organizers and educators.

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Antigone Project

The Antigone Project was created to raise awareness on Gender Based Violence and prevent it through school theater workshops. It’s a project based on participatory theater techniques, aims to allow and give tools to secondary school teachers from all over Europe, to be able to organize theater workshops in order to raise awareness of the GBV in their classroom. To achieve this, the project will develop a manual in relation to the organization of school workshops with all the necessary information, which will allow teachers in their schools to use the theater method independently. Based on this manual, we will develop training material and organize online and face-to-face courses for teachers in all partner countries.

Goals

Develop a method focused on the application of theatrical methodologies to talk about issues related to gender-based violence with a specific focus on the role of the teacher; to integrate the use of participatory theater as a method of raising awareness in relation to gender-based violence; develop the skills of teachers to independently use prevention interventions focused on participatory theater in order to raise awareness on gender-based violence; develop resources to allow independent use by teachers and educational operators after the end of the project.

Steps:

First step – October 2021, first transnational meeting in Budapest
Second Step – from November 2021 to February 2022, organization of a refresher course for teachers about raising awareness on gender-based violence through theater workshops
Third Step – January 2022, second transnational meeting in Belgrade
Fourth Step – from February to March 2022, online course held by university teacher and workshop in the presence of the performer and actress Marta Tabacco

Partners:

In addition to Italy, represented by the AIDA Foundation, the following participate in the project:

Udrujenije Gragdana Dah Teatar – Centar Za Pozorishna Istrajivanja,
Serbia (project leader);
Theatro Aeroploio – Ena Theatro Giapaidia (Greece);
Action Synergy SA (Greece);
Association of Young Psychologists in Bulgaria (Bulgaria);
Insite Drama Oktatasi, Kulturalis es szolgatato non profit korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag (Hungary);
Hogskulen Pa Vestlandet (Norway);
RealStars (Sweden)

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Beni Montresor: homage to light

Together with Titivillus Publishing Exhibitions we have set up two exhibitions: “From color to light” at the New York Public Library for Performing Arts at Lincoln Center, and Casa di fiori, home of stars at the Italian Cultural Institute in New York. The proposals were then also presented later in other cultural contexts. The exhibitions are not available at the moment.

House of flowers, house of stars

The exhibition is dedicated to the artist who was also a sensitive illustrator of children’s books. It consists of 61 paintings, 21 books illustrated by the master. Casa di Fiori, casa di stelle is also a theatrical show written and directed by Lorenzo Bassotto. It is a narration of six fairy tales chosen from the countless stories told or illustrated by Beni Montresor.

The exhibition will see specifically the original drawings that the artist made for some editions of the tales of Charles Perrault, Andersen or the Brothers Grimm. There will also be many original drawings taken from illustrated books written by Beni Montresor himself for the most important American publishing houses.

From color to light

The exhibition aims to retrace the last decade of Beni Montresor’s work as a director, set designer, theatrical light designer. The exhibition celebrates a “nomad” of the image, stateless but at the same time “at home” in each of the great theaters in which and for which he worked, among others: Colon of Buenos Aires, Scala of Milan, Arena of Verona , Opera of Rome, Massimo of Palermo, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Metropolitan and Lincoln Center of New York …

In his work Montresor has always tried to dress the great melodies of opera and ballet with the colors of his imagination, often challenging stylistic and aesthetic clichés that required the scenography to conform to the libretto rather than to the music, thus coming to propose daring and in counter-trend and yet always elegant and appropriate.

These stylistic choices will lead the Montresor of the decade 1991-2001, to an aesthetic choice of progressive “subtraction” of the scenic line, up to the “empty scene”, where the shapes and colors will be gradually entrusted only to the play of lights.

On display are the drawings, posters and photos of installations such as the “Faust” at the Scala in Milan, the “Werther” at the Carlo Felice in Genoa, the “Madama Butterfly” at the Arena di Verona, the “Otello” at the Colon in Buenos Aires, “The witches of Venice” again at La Scala, a ballet, the latter, with music by Philip Glass on a libretto by Montresor himself.

Other sections are then dedicated to drawings and photos of the sets and costumes made for “Elisir d’Amore” for the Metropolitan of New York, the “Falstaff” at the Lisbon Theater, the Tosca at the Puccini Festival and then again the documentation of the creations. scenographic for “Traviata”, “Cyrano”, the ballet “Sleeping Beauty” for the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, and much more.

Pippi Calzelunghe To Vimmerby and back

Pippi Calzelunghe To Vimmerby and Back is a project created on the occasion of the centenary of the birth of Astrid Lindgren, the Swedish author of extraordinary and unforgettable children’s books that do not seem to have been affected by the patina of time.

On the occasion of the centenary we have created a project dedicated to the figure of Pippi Longstocking, a theater show for children, which over time has become an ever green of our foundation and the exhibition A Vimmerby and back.

With A Vimmerby and back we want first of all to rediscover such a characteristic and important character in children’s literature. A character who became famous in the world for his sympathy and innate ability to communicate. In order also to bring attention, in Italy, to Astrid Lindgren as a fundamental author in the history of literature for both children and in general.

The exhibition therefore represents a real journey into the history and figure of Pippi Longstocking.

It is made up of sixty color photographic paintings that illustrate the writer’s life and places. It is a journey into the world of Lindgren, in a glimpse of Sweden that binds all her production and that is present in every line of her novels as a silent and tender protagonist.
We have also set up this exhibition in collaboration with the Municipality of Verona and the University of Verona. A Vimmerby and back is a child-friendly exhibition itinerary enriched with multimedia corners dedicated to television and film production.

Treasure Hunt Verona

In the spectacular scenery of the city of Verona and its minor districts, Borgo Roma, Veronetta and Santa Lucia, guardians of historical, urban and landscape beauties, we are waiting for you for a great team game for families.

A special App will guide you through the game.

Free admission.

For more information and reservations (by 20 September)

We look forward to seeing you!

Treasure Hunt Verona is part of the School & Community project of Rete Tante Tinte, developed in collaboration with Fondazione Aida, which has obtained funding under MiBACT’s Piano Cultura Futuro Urbano. The funding aims to support projects to promote and enhance the suburbs of metropolitan cities and provincial capitals throughout Italy.

Information

Call: 045/8001471 or write to info@cacciaaltesoro.it

On 3 October 2020, we will have fun together in a great team game, free of charge, for young and adults. A special Treasure Hunt is planned in the smaller districts of our city.

Gianni Rodari My theatre

Gianni Rodari My Theater is an exhibition that for the first time aims to illustrate a lesser known aspect of the writer’s extensive work: the relationship between Rodari and the Theater. The exhibition therefore describes the relationship between the great master of children’s fiction and the artists who, in some way, were inspired by his work to illustrate, create sets, direction, music and theatrical texts.

Gianni Rodari My Theater is made by the Rodari Center of Pontedera and the Rodari Center of Orvieto.

With the advice of Maria Teresa Ferretti Rodari, his wife, who kindly granted most of the materials on display.

The relationship between Rodari and the theater, even if little studied, has actually proved to be very intense, starting from the experiences of mass theater, up to the institutional theater performances, such as “The stories of King Midas”, staged at the Teatro Stabile di Torino, and even more shows that were affected by a more liberating atmosphere such as “The story of all stories”, made in 1977 with the children and teachers of La Spezia.

From this important consideration, the Aida Foundation took inspiration to remember the great writer linked to children’s literature and theater, through a project linked to his literary work and the theatrical transpositions that have sprung from his works.

The project was successfully presented at the Bologna book fair in 2006 and 2007, and was included in the project of the ministry for cultural heritage and activities-institute for the book: “Ottobre Piovono Books”.

Gianni Rodari My Theater

In the foreground, therefore, there will be not only Rodari, but also his greatest illustrator, Emanuele Luzzati (extraordinary “interpreter” of his stories with illustrations, but also set designer of his shows).

There will also be the presence of other artists who have made their relationship with Rodari their source of inspiration. Among these we mention an unpublished interview with Mariano Dolci who talks about his profession as a “municipal” puppeteer and his meeting with Gianni Rodari, Mario Piatti, whose beautiful songs and music inspired by the Rodarian imagination.

The exhibition consists of many unpublished materials: photographs, original sketches, drawings, videos, interviews, puppets, parts of sets, covers, illustrated books and more. There are also images never seen before by Gianni Rodari in relation to the upper theater (The stable of Rome and Turin for example), but also with the lower one, the puppet shows for which, as Mariano Dolci says, Rodari would have liked to have written more.

The exhibition is accompanied by the book Gianni Rodari Il mio teatro (Edizioni Titivillus) edited by Andrea Mancini and Mario Piatti – preface by Maurizio Costanzo. A catalog full of unpublished materials (images, photographs, interviews, reviews and essays by Rodari himself).

For information: Fondazione@fondazioneaida.it

Beni Montresor: the homage in New York

In 2003 in New York Fondazione Aida pays homage to a great artist from Veneto who has been able, with his art, to cross geographical, ideal and cultural borders: Beni Montresor.

The artist has worked in Italy, but has also received many honours in England, France and the United States. He finally chose New York as his artistic and professional home.

The exhibitions

From 19 June to 16 September 2003 two exhibitions were held in America together with Titivillus Mostre Editoria.

“Dal colore alla luce” was held at the Lincoln Center and “Casa di fiori, casa di stelle” at the Italian Cultural Institute in New York.

The latter consists of 61 paintings and 21 illustrated books representing the drawings the artist made for some editions of fairy tales by Perrault, Andersen and the Brothers Grimm.

Also, there are many original drawings from the picture books that Montresor has written for the most important American publishers.

The partners

The initiative is also patronized by the Ministry for Italians Worldwide, the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) and the collaboration of the Veneto Region and the Municipality of Bussolengo (artist Beni Montresor’s birthplace).

Also participating in the project: Verona Tuttintorno, Consorzio di promozione turistica and Stone Italiana, also receiving the interest of MiBACT and IMAIE.

The show

“Casa di Fiori, casa di stelle” is also a play written and directed by Lorenzo Bassotto. It is a narration of six fairy tales chosen from the countless stories told or illustrated by Beni Montresor.

Diversamente a teatro

For three years, from 2014 to June 2017, Diversamente a teatro offered a training and work placement opportunity in the theatre sector to a group of young people with disabilities without distinction in terms of contract or economic level compared to other workers in the sector.

This initiative is inspired by international models and is a pilot project made possible thanks to the support of Fondazione UmanaMente. Thanks to Diversamente a teatro, this group of young people became an integral part of the organisational structure of the theatre. THE STAFF bar has become the space in which this project has found concreteness and offers them the opportunity to express their professionalism. Thanks to the contribution of the Cattolica Foundation, the Valle dei Laghi Theatre has become a place for cultural aggregation, social integration and experimentation.

After the closure of the Valle dei Laghi Theatre in Vezzano, this opportunity disappeared. Hence the idea of Associazione Atti, Oasi Valle dei Laghi and our foundation to give continuity to the initiative.

Chef a teatro and Lettori Olimpici are the natural continuation of this project. Over the years they have in fact found continuity and support thanks to a network of sensitive and shrewd partners.

A project by ATTI, Comunità Valle dei Laghi, Fondazione Aida, Associazione Oasi.

Realised with the support of Fondazione Cattolica Assicurazioni and Fondazione Umanamente.