Italian Biennial of Poetry among the Arts is born. First edition in April

Six cities (Alessandria, Tortona, Piacenza, Cremona, Parma, Bologna) and more than three hundred poets, artists and musicians are involved in the first edition of the Italian Biennial of Poetry among the Arts, which, from April 2023 to January 2024, will make Poetry accessible to all, in the sign of inclusion and artistic contamination.

Organized by the association of the same name for social promotion, chaired by Mauro Ferrari, the Italian Biennial of Poetry among the Arts was born under the artistic direction of Massimo Silvotti, at the behest of two Italian cultural realities of undisputed international scope: the Biennial of Poetry of Alessandria and the Piccolo Museo della Poesia Chiesa di San Cristoforo in Piacenza (BIPA’s legal headquarters). They were joined by other relevant cultural associations that have been engaged in the promotion of poetry and art for years: EstroVersi of Bologna, VocinArte of Parma and ADAFA of Cremona.

The theme chosen for the first edition of the Biennial- “Un Po di Poesia” -alludes to the Great River and to models of sustainable development, in the broadest sense of the term. Environmental sustainability, then, but also economic, social, and whatever else concerns the relationship of human beings to the world. Given the recent death of the dean of Italian poets and president emeritus of the Piccolo Museo della Poesia Chiesa di San Cristoforo, Biennial 2023 is dedicated to the memory of Giampiero Neri.

“For some time,” recount Mauro Ferrari and Massimo Silvotti, “we had felt the need for a major national artistic event that would put poetry at the center of Italian cultural debate, including in its function as a glue between all the arts. We started from the observation that the contemporary Italian poetic world, almost unknown to most, primarily needed to break out of the shell of a self-referentiality that at times risks appearing stuffed with arrogance. The reality is quite different: experienced from within, and skimmed of scattered splinters of narcissism, Italian poetry today is not only qualitatively remarkable, but also interconnected, characterized by vitality and well disposed to confrontation, collaboration, or even contamination with other artistic disciplines. Here then are the outlines of this Biennale of ours, which we want to be multiform and multidisciplinary, democratic and itinerant. And we want it to intrigue, to surprise, to entertain. Above all, we want it to be able to make visible, how quality in the arts is always the logical result of forward thinking and will. We will realize in six different cities (Alessandria, Tortona, Piacenza, Cremona, Parma and Bologna), over a period of time from spring to winter, conferences, poetry readings, collective performances, videos, installations, exhibitions, dances, concerts. We will occupy historical palaces, museums, theaters, Italian squares, natural places full of suggestion. We will collaborate with museums, academies, conservatories, art high schools and even elementary school. We will host, above all, poets, artists, musicians of national and international renown, from Italy and all over the world, who are willing to get involved to the fullest, without barriers, without fences.”

The Biennial opens on the weekend of April 29 and 30, 2023, in Alessandria and Tortona, respectively. On the 29th with the conference “Rivers, Culture and Territorial Development,” focused on the relationship between man and land, according to different points of view: from the fragility of the territory and water to the creative dimension (artistic and poetic specifically), which will be the focus of the reflections and readings of critics and poets. On the 30th with the event “The River of Poetry,” a dialogue between different artistic forms, starting with poetry.

Second stage in Piacenza, on May 6 and 7, 2023: “Changing Course” with videos, performances, exhibitions and poetry at the Palazzo Gotico; “Homages to Cristina Campo and Daria Menicanti” and “Poetry and Singing” in the Ducal Chapel of Palazzo Farnese and “Poetry and Jazz” at the Piccolo Museo della Poesia; “Contaminations” between art, music and poetry in the Garden of the Ricci Oddi Gallery; the “Raft of Poetic Singing” on the Po Embankment.

Third event in Cremona, on May 13 and 14, 2023. Two events at the headquarters of the Artists’ Association-“The Po in the Poetry of the Twentieth Century,” curated by Vincenzo Montuori, and “A Po of Verse in Dialect”-will explore the relationship of poets from the Po Valley territory with the Great River in the twentieth century, both in terms of production in language and dialect.

The Biennial will arrive in Parma on May 28, 2023 with the poetry event “Poets Post 68” at the Guanda Library. It will close in Bologna on September 27, 2023 with “A Tea with Poetry,” an international event of multiethnic and inclusive culture, and the bi-personal exhibition of Maurizio Caruso and Artan Shabani. All moments will feature musical interludes.

In addition, the Biennial includes a rich calendar of collateral and special events through January 2024, which is continuously being updated and can be viewed at www.biennalebipa.com. A special event is also planned in the Ecce Homo room of the Alberoni Gallery in Piacenza, with the extraordinary participation of artist Omar Galliani. The guiding image of the first edition of the Biennial is the “Raft of Poetic Song,” the outcome of a collective performance curated by Antje Sthen. A dual image, which alludes to the last foothold after a shipwreck, but also to the hope of those who do not want to be swept away by the waves.

The “Italian Biennial of Poetry among the Arts” is realized thanks to a virtuous network of institutional and private partners: Alessandro Vivaldi Conservatory of Alessandria, Municipality of Piacenza, Alberoni Gallery of Piacenza, Ricci Oddi Gallery of Piacenza, Cassinari High School of Art of Piacenza, RadioRaccontiamoci of Piacenza, Rinascimusica of Piacenza, Academy of Fine Arts of Carrara, Academy of Fine Arts of Lecce, Monteverdi Conservatory of Cremona, Versante Ripido of Bologna, Friends of the Muses of Bologna, Euterpe Mousikè of Bologna, Betania Onlus of Bologna, Consulate of Romania in Bologna, Consulate of Hungary in Bologna. Under the patronage of Piedmont Region, Emilia Romagna Region, City of Alessandria, Province of Alessandria, City of Cremona, City of Tortona. With contributions from: Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Alessandria, Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Tortona, Fondazione di Piacenza e Vigevano. Sponsors: Banca di Piacenza, Confindustria Piacenza, The Damman Frères, Nino Restaurant, Hotel Palace. Hospitality: Grand Hotel Majestic “già Baglioni.” Publishing partner: Puntoacapo Editrice.

All Biennial events, unless otherwise noted, are free admission. For information: www.biennalebipa.com. Contact information for individual contact persons is provided on the BIPA website.

Image: interior of the Piacenza Small Museum of Poetry in the church of San Cristoforo. Photo: Carlo Vannini

Italian Biennial of Poetry among the Arts is born. First edition in April

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